Police: Man Attacked Girlfriend, Cops, K‑9

A Branford man with a long court history of domestic violence was arrested Saturday night after a series of alleged attacks, including a violent dispute with his girlfriend; an attempt to choke Joker, the Branford police dog; and attacks on two police officers who sustained minor injuries.

The attacks took place on Saturday night at the Branford Motel, 470 East Main St., an address the Branford police know by heart. The motel has been the scene of numerous arrests over the years, a hot spot, police officials say for various kinds of criminal activity, activity that requires service from police, fire or emergency service. Primarily the calls are for police aid.

When police officers Jay Kaufman, Mathew Clerkin, Luigi Amasino and his K‑9 partner, Joker, arrived at 470 East Main St., Saturday night, they were responding to an emergency 911 call that a man was engaged in a violent domestic dispute with his girlfriend at the motel.

Police found the suspect, Louis Ortiz, 38, on the second floor balcony of the motel. As Officer Kaufman tried to take Ortiz into custody, ​“he became combative” and refused to comply with police commands, Capt. Geoffrey Morgan said. A confrontation erupted.

Ortiz lunged at Joker and in return received several bite wounds from the dog, sources said. Ortiz was eventually subdued by Joker and the three officers. During the encounter, Ortiz allegedly tried to choke Joker and ​“continually fought with the officers,” Morgan said.

The officers suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local medical facility and released. Ortiz was also transported by Branford Fire Department paramedics to a medical facility for treatment and later released to police. Officer Amasino, Joker’s partner, later reported that Joker did not require medical attention. 

Ortiz was charged with a number of crimes, including assault, interfering with officers, cruelty to animals, and assault on an officer. He was held on a $10,000 bond and was arraigned in New Haven Superior Court in New Haven this morning.

The suspect has a long criminal record of domestic violence and violating protecting orders dating back a decade, to 2006, in all a dozen criminal cases of which he was convicted in Meriden and New Haven Superior Courts. He has pleaded guilty to charges involving risk of injury to a child and various violations of protection orders, cases that resulted in prison time, the most recent in 2014.

A Bullet-Proof Vest for Joker

Joker, a young German Shepherd, who has helped fight crime in Branford, was lucky. He was not seriously injured. To make sure he is not seriously harmed in the future, the Exchange Club of Branford will hold a K‑9 Bullet-Proof Vest Fundraiser to raise funds for a bullet-proof vest for Joker Sunday. These vests can cost from $1,400 to $2,200. The event takes place at Bill Miller’s Castle, 834 Main St., at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door, and include dinner buffet and the comedy show hosted by comedian Vincent McElhone. For more information, call 203 – 901-7982 or email [email protected].
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