FBI arrests 4 Conn. officers on conspiracy charges

FBI arrests 4 Conn. officers on conspiracy charges

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — The FBI has arrested four East Haven, Conn., police officers on conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges following an investigation into possible civil rights violations.

Federal law enforcement officials say in indictment papers that Officers Dennis Spaulding, David Cari and Jason Zullo and Sgt. John Miller executed unreasonable searches and seizures, used unreasonable force and concealed their actions. Mayor Joseph Maturo says the four were arrested at about 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The U.S. Justice Department said last month that the police department engaged in a pattern of discrimination against Latino residents. Investigators say their probe was complicated by efforts to interfere with witnesses and police silence.

Maturo says he stands behind the police department. He says that the arrests are unfortunate but that East Haven has a “great police department.”