Police Body Camera Footage Captures Chaotic Scene At Bonfire

East Haven CT

17 February, 2021

10:23 PM

Description

EAST HAVEN, CT — The family's adult son died Monday. They were grieving. But state and local police repeatedly told the large crowd Monday night that this "is not the way to do this" as the father of the man who passed away, other family members and friends gathered around an illegal backyard bonfire — with the couch the man died on being burned. East Haven Police Department Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said the cause of the man's death, whose name was not released by police, is unknown. After 911 calls, East Haven firefighters arrived to put out the illegal bonfire on Bradford Avenue around 9 p.m. Police said firefighters were attacked by people with ice balls, snow balls and soon, other objects with one person threatening a "riot" if firefighters and police did not leave, East Haven police said Tuesday. One 911 call had a person reporting the fire was seven feet high and people there were throwing liquor bottles into the fire. "With tensions escalating, the crowd began to throw other items at the Fire Department as well as more items into the large fire," police said. As they spoke to Glenn Degray, 56, a large piece of ice, which was thrown from the crowd, struck a police cruiser with several people standing near it. While speaking with officers, Degray threatened to start a "riot" if the police didn't leave, police said. And with the "crowd growing increasingly hostile, additional units from surrounding agencies came, including Branford and New Haven police departments and Connecticut State Police. As officers were trying to control the crowd, police said, Michael Ciarleglio, 33, of Wallingford, "approached officers from behind and ignored police commands to 'get back,' and Ciarleglio lunged at an officer, pushing him out of the way, in an attempt to lunge at another officer who had just arrived on scene." As Ciarleglio was taken into custody, "the crowd began hopping the fence to advance towards the officers while continuing to throw objects." An East Haven police officer was struck in the head with a heavy backpack filled with various items, police said, but was not injured. He said police "were forced to deploy OC spray in an effort to keep the crowd back while attempting to make an arrest." Degray was charged with inciting a riot and second-degree breach of peace. Ciarleglio was charged with second-degree breach of peace and interfering with an officer. Ciarleglio and Degray were released on $2,500 bail. Following a Patch request, Murgo forwarded officer-worn body camera footage that covers around 20 minutes of police interaction. Caution: Graphic language and violence are seen in video. As seen in the footage, DeGray tells police that if they don't leave, he'll start a riot. "If you guys start something I'll have half the "f---" town here causing a riot," he says. Police ask, "What's going on?" DeGray tells them his son died and, "We're just celebrating his death. It'll end soon. He died today. He's my son. If you guys start something, I'll go make phone calls and get half the "f---" town here. You want a riot? I've done it before. I've had riots where they've "f---" had people in handcuffs." Police tell him they've gotten complaints from neighbors. "Well, you know what? "f---" them. If you really wanna start, I'll start making phone calls. I'll have 300 or 400 "f---" people here in minutes. Half the town knows me," he yells to police. "That's inciting a riot," police say. "Well, if you guys wanna start .." Police say they don't want a problem and "sorry for your loss but …" There's ongoing yelling and screaming going on. "If you want me to calm it down then leave!" Then others from the yard and house begin screaming at police and some begin throwing ice at police. Yelling, screaming and arguing with vulgar language continues and then, in what appears to be the assault on an officer described above, wearing a camera, it goes dark. Then sirens and more police arrive at a chaotic scene. DeGray's wife then tells police, "I'm sorry. I know things are out of control right now. We just lost our son." Police say the fire must be extinguished and then they're told what's burning is the couch the son died on. As DeGray's wife is apologizing to police, commotion and yelling comes from an outside staircase. A man is screaming at police who ask to talk to him: "What are we gonna talk about?" He then rips what appears to be wood or siding from a banister and wields it trying to strike an officer. Police yell: "Put it down!" Minutes later, two men speaking with police deny throwing ice balls, and in one case, a bag or backpack and other objects at police. Police explain that what's happening at the house, while they "understand people are grieving" a death, is unacceptable and note there's a risk from the fire: "It's more than the neighbors. It's a huge fire hazard (with) flames going up by the house." Then, with Connecticut State Police on the scene, they try to speak to DeGray and steer him away from the house and the crowd and tell him that he "threatened to get more than half the town here" and "You're getting people all riled up." DeGray says he's given "a lot of money to police" and officers should not, "Piss me off because I can blackmail the police department." Then as he's being arrested for inciting a riot, he yells out: "They're arresting me everybody! On my son's death." Seconds later he's heard saying he's being arrested, "Because I'm a white guy."