NEW HAVEN – The Meriden police officer charged with violating the civil rights of a suspect after he was seen on video pushing the handcuffed man into a cell testified Friday that he is surprised the suspect fell and that he did not intend to injure him.
Evan Cossette, 26, is accused of pushing Pedro Temich backwards into a cell on May 1, 2010, then lying about the incident in reports he filed. A videotape shows Temich facing Cossette with hands handcuffed behind his back and Cossette pushing him, causing him to fall backward.