MERIDEN, Conn — A Meriden police officer is charged with assault after a road rage incident in December 2023 that was caught on camera.
The video shows an off duty Meriden Police officer with more than 20 years of law enforcement experience reaching into a citizen’s vehicle and punching them. The video was obtained through a Freedom of Information request, following a tip to the station.
On December 8, 2023, Thomas Brocuglio, 37, was driving his company vehicle with the dash camera recording when he approached a Toyota Tacoma a red light at the intersection of France Street and Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill.
Brocuglio honked his horn. “What are we doing?” he asked. He honked again, “What are you doing!?” Brocuglio was expecting the Toyota to take a right on red. “Waiting all ***ing day!” Brocuglio yells and he flashes the middle finger at the truck in front of him.
The Toyota that he was honking at was being driven by off-duty Meriden Police Corporal Allen Ganter, 57. Ganter can be seen getting out of his truck, flashed his police badge and approached Brocuglio. “You can’t take a right on red you ***hole,” said Ganter. “Really? Where does it say that? It says 'stop here on red',” responded Brocuglio.
Corporal Ganter began taking pictures of Brocuglio’s license plates. Brocuglio accused Ganter of being on his phone as the confrontation escalated. “Yeah, I saw you looking down doing everything else,” said Brocuglio.
“No, I was moving something in my bag,” responded Ganter.
Ganter then threatened to give Broculglio a ticket and to call his supervisor.
“Sure. Sounds good,” said Brocuglio. “Let me get your badge number.” Ganter can be seen lunging toward Brocuglio, reached into his vehicle and punched him in the face saying, “…****ing ***hole. Who do you think you are ****ing with? Do you want to get arrested?”
Brocuglio replied, “You are going to get arrested for assaulting a civilian.”
Ganter drove away as Brocuglio placed a call to Rocky Hill Police 911. “I was just assaulted by a police officer. He punched me in the face through my window,” explained Brocuglio on the video.
Rocky Hill Police responded and generated an incident report saying the punch left Brocuglio, “dazed and possibly concussed.”
Rocky Hill Police made contact with Ganter at his residence. The interaction was recorded on police body camera footage. “Is he pressing charges against me like for breach because I yelled at him and stuff?” asked Ganter to the Rocky Hill officer. “For assault because you hit him,” replied the Rocky Hill Officer. “He’s saying that I hit him?” asked Ganter. “Yeah. And he has video that you hit him,” explained the Rocky Hill officer.
Ganter then asks officers if he can charge Broculgio. “There's nothing where I can press for breach for him yelling at me whatever it is?” asked Ganter.
Ultimately, Ganter, who is a school resource officer for the Thomas Edison Middle School in Meriden, was charged with breach of peace and 3rd degree assault.
Meriden Police sent FOX61 a statement saying an internal affairs investigation determined Ganter, “did violate the Meriden Police Department’s Rules of Conduct,” and as a result he was “...suspended for 5 days without pay and will be required to attend de-escalation training for 3 consecutive years.”
Officials said, "At the time Corporal Ganter was placed on administrative duty, he was also removed from his assignment as a School Resource Officer and as a result of the discipline which was rendered as a part of the IA investigation, Corporal Ganter was permanently removed from his assignment as an SRO. "
After issuing the statement, Meriden Police said they will not be discussing the matter any further nor would anyone be made available for an on-camera interview.
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Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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