Thomas Breen photo
Chief Dominguez (right) at Thursday's presser.
City police have made six arrests and obtained a warrant for a seventh for various shooting incidents that took place between May of last year and Thursday.
Interim Police Chief Renee Dominguez and Mayor Justin Elicker announced that spate of gun-related arrests during a press conference Thursday on the third floor of police headquarters at 1 Union Ave.
Standing alongside two dozen city detectives, state prosecutors, and law enforcement officials from throughout the region, Dominguez listed off a host of recent arrests stemming in part from the work of the Shooting Task Force.
The police department reinvigorated the task force last year to focus exclusively on solving gun and shooting cases. The task force currently includes members of the New Haven, West Haven, Hamden, Wallingford, and Yale Police Departments, as well as representatives from the state police, the state Department of Correction (DOC), and the state’s attorney’s office.
Asst. Chief Karl Jacobson also noted that on Monday a jury found Anthony Valeriano — who was arrested last July for the shooting death of Natosha Gaines in 2020 – guilty of first-degree manslaughter.
“I think we’re beginning to see the fruits of that labor,” New Haven State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin said about the work of the Shooting Task Force.
“These cases really exemplify the hard work and dedication of the New Haven Police Department’s Investigative Services Unit,” Dominguez said.
Asked about how exactly the collaborations of the Shooting Task Force helps solve cases, Dominguez said, “Having people from other agencies that are surrounding us to come and be in our building five days a week, doing this together, it makes for easier communication. … I think they’re doing great work.”
Asst. Chief Jacobson and city detectives on Thursday.
The arrests that Dominguez announced on Thursday stemmed from the following cases:
• On Feb. 20 at 10:56 p.m., police responded to the report of shots fired at Lloyd and Clay Streets in Fair Haven. Officers found no ballistics or victims on scene. Sgt. Chris Cameron received intelligence about the incident from community members, who provided surveillance footage that showed a person shooting through the sun roof of a car. The Shooting Task Force recanvassed the area, located the suspect’s vehicle, and — with the help of West Haven and North Haven officers — arrested a suspect on March 4 on various gun-related charges.
• On Sept. 26 of last year at around 5:47 p.m., city police officers responded to Fowler Street for the report of gunfire. They found shell casings at the scene, interviewed community members, and were ultimately able to get video surveillance that showed a suspect retrieving a gun and shooting at people. After a months long investigation, a state trooper arrested a suspect on Feb. 26.
• On March 9, lead investigators Officer Bleck Joseph and Det. Elizabeth White secured a search warrant for a residence on Lodge Street, and ultimately arrested a suspect who was found with a .40 caliber handgun, 134 grams of heroin, $3.7 pounds of marijuana, and $8,500 in currency.
• On May 20 of last year, police responded to reports of shots fired at West Street and Congress Avenue. They found over 20 shell casings and two bullet fragments that hit parked vehicles. Later that same night, police responded to Redfield Street for the report of a person shot at a backyard party. Two people were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. City police were able to develop a suspect in the case and ultimately arrested that suspect for two counts of first-degree assault.
• On Feb. 14, officers responded to Yale New Haven Hospital for a gunshot victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the finger. Det. Stone determined that the shooting took place on Shepard Street, and that the victim was hit during a robbery when trying to protect themself. Police developed two suspects, one a juvenile and one 27 years old. On Feb. 19, police arrested the juvenile. They have a warrant for the 27-year-old, and are still looking for him.
• On March 4, police responded to a report of a person shot on Rosette Street. That victim suffered “multiple gunshot wounds,” but is in stable condition. Police got a search warrant for a home on Rosette. Det. Jeremy Cordero spoke with a witness and “obtained a significant amount of video” surveillance. He developed a suspect, and ultimately arrested him in a residence in Meriden on March 7. The suspect was found in possession of a 9mm firearm, and is incarcerated on a $1 million bond.
Watch the full presser below.
Not a few people in this city feel that acting chief Dominguez should reconsider her impending retirement and throw her hat back into the ring.
In light of the approving treatment and consideration given to the NHFD Chief's reappointment without provisions or further consideration from the BOA, in spite of major criticisms and opposition from many members of the NHFD, a number of questions have arisen which may expose some racial and/or gender bias.
Dominguez had the support of the mayor, some aldermen, a lot of public support, as well as wide support from members of the NHPD.
This entire ordeal of the unfair way Dominguez was treated by many in this community is a sad and unfortunate blot on the record of New Haven.
If we do not get a police chief who knows this city, who has worked through the ranks, we may all live to regret it, and have the Board of Aldermen and others to blame!