West Hartford Police Chief Vernon Riddick held a press conference Wednesday and provided updates about the incident that led to an officer firing his weapon at a suspect.
By Ronni Newton
West Hartford Police Chief Vernon Riddick spoke to reporters Wednesday afternoon, providing some additional details regarding an incident that unfolded Tuesday on New Britain Avenue that ultimately ended with an officer discharging his weapon and one of two suspects succumbing to injuries.
Riddick said the incident began at approximately 4:53 p.m. on Aug. 8, when officers were traveling east on New Britain Avenue and spotted a vehicle believed to have been reported stolen. After confirming the status of the vehicle, “one of our officers deployed their stop sticks in the area of New Britain Avenue and New Park,” Riddick said.
The vehicle continued heading east on New Britain Avenue, the chief said, and as the officer attempted to return to his vehicle to follow the stolen car, the suspect vehicle struck another vehicle on New Britain Avenue near South Street.
There were two individuals in the stolen vehicle, and witnesses told police that one of the suspects had fled on foot, running east on New Britain Avenue.
“Officers engaged in a foot pursuit and were able to locate the individual in the area of 1012 New Britain Avenue by the Meineke,” Riddick said.
West Hartford Emergency Dispatchers advised officers at the scene that another individual had been spotted heading toward 980 New Britain Avenue – Town Fair Tire.
“As the officer was responding he observed the individual inside a car fighting with an employee inside the bay of the establishment,” Riddick said. The officer ordered the employee to step away from the vehilce, and deployed his K9 who entered the vehicle.
Riddick said the officer reached inside the vehicle to attempt to grab his K9 and arrest the suspect, but the suspect did not comply with the officer’s requests, put the vehicle in drive, and drove off.
The suspect in the vehicle taken from Town Fair Tire, with the officer and K9 still inside, then hit a police cruiser that had responded to the scene, and struck a civilian vehicle that was traveling westbound on New Britain Avenue.
Despite repeated efforts and orders to stop the vehicle, the individual did not comply, Riddick said. The officer who was inside the suspect vehicle then discharged his weapon and shot the suspect who was driving the vehicle, Riddick said.
“The vehicle then crashed into the telephone pole at which time officers rendered aid and provided CPR immediately,” Riddick said. West Hartford Fire Department paramedics also responded and provided CPR, but Riddick said that unfortunately the individual passed away later that evening.
The officer was also sent to the hospital with head injuries and other non-life-threatening injuries, and was discharged Tuesday night.
The K9 was not injured, police said.
The individual who fled and was apprehended, who was arrested and charged by police, was identified as Lyle Solsbury, a convicted felon who has been arrested more than 30 times in towns across the state. He has been charged with interfering, larceny of a motor vehicle, and conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle.
Lyle Solsbury. Courtesy of West Hartford Police
Police have not identified the individual who died in the incident, nor have they identified the officer who discharged his weapon.
The Inspector General’s Office, led by the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crimes Unit, is handling the remainder of the investigation of the incident.
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Relieved to hear the Officer and Canine Officer are ok. Always unfortunate when there’s a loss of life but circumstances present themselves where there’s no alternative. Fortunately, the public was saved from any injuries in this incident and the officer had the state of mind to minimize public safety exposure and preserve his own safety and the canine’s safety.
Very disappointed in the mayor’s statement.