NEW HAVEN – New Haven police have released several surveillance videos they say absolves officers of any police brutality complaints that may arise from an April 30 incident at the Beverage Boss liquor store on Whalley Avenue.
At just after 9:30 p.m. on April 30, the clerk at the Beverage Boss called police to report a male customer was threatening everyone inside and screaming at the store’s security guard.
The clerk got into an argument with a couple after requesting an ID, for proof of age and card ownership, on an attempted credit card purchase.
Eventually the male customer started screaming and swearing at not only the security guard, but also other customers.
Police say Jeffrey Agnew Jr., 28, of New Haven, refused to provide officers with identification and continued screaming at the store clerk. He was arrested, but refused all orders, including the police’s request to put his hands behind his back.
They also say the newly released video supports officers' claims that Agnew lunged at an officer and resisted arrest before he was pepper-sprayed. When the pepper-spray didn’t subdue him, an officer struck Agnew on an arm with his baton.
Beverage Boss Owner Hasu Patel told FOX 61, “Police did a wonderful job and the surveillance video shows that. It took four officers to control him.”
Police note that Agnew has been arrested eight times since 2009.