On Thursday, April 2, 2020, Parole Officers with the Connecticut Department of Correction, Parole Division, had an order to take Jose Soto (Date of Birth November 23, 1992) into custody for a violation of parole stemming from his conviction for Robbery in the First Degree. The officers requested that Manchester Police Department officers accompany them to a residence at 181 Oak Street in Manchester, where Mr. Soto was believed to be.
Officers arrived at the house at approximately 7:30 p.m. Mr. Soto implied that he had a gun when officers initially approached the house and it was determined that he was not going to go with them peacefully. The decision was made to call the Capital Region Emergency Service Team (CREST). CREST is a regional SWAT team made up of officers from the Coventry, Cromwell, East Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury, Manchester, Rocky Hill, South Windsor, Vernon, Wethersfield and University of Connecticut police departments. CREST does not utilize body cameras.
CREST team members set up a perimeter around the house and began to speak with Mr. Soto by telephone. He eventually agreed to come out of the house at which time a confrontation occurred. Four officers with the CREST team fired their weapons and Mr. Soto was injured. Personnel at the scene, including EMS personnel, rendered immediate medical aid to Mr. Soto, who was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Pursuant to Section 51-277a of the Connecticut General Statutes, Chief State’s Attorney Richard J. Colangelo, Jr., assigned Matthew C. Gedansky, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Tolland, to conduct the investigation into this incident and to determine if the use of force was justified under state law. Section 51-277a requires that such investigation be assigned to a State’s Attorney from a Judicial District other than that where the incident occurred. Manchester is in the Judicial District of Hartford.
State’s Attorney Gedansky and personnel from the Tolland State’s Attorney’s Office responded to the scene. Personnel from the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office also responded to the scene to assist with the immediate response. Detectives from the Connecticut State’s Police Western District Major Crime responded to the scene and will assist State’s Attorney Gedansky with this investigation.
The State’s Attorney extends his condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Soto on their loss. The investigation is in its preliminary stages and more information concerning this investigation will be released as appropriate.