Press Releases
08/20/2019
Statement of the State's Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven Concerning a Police Pursuit in New Haven on August 17, 2018
On August 17, 2018, members of the Hamden Police Department attempted to stop a stolen motor vehicle that was observed at the scene of a burglary within their town. The operator, Brandon Shealy, refused to stop and a brief pursuit ensued. Hamden officers terminated the pursuit, which entered into New Haven, in the area of Barnes and Quinnipiac Avenues, where they lost site of the vehicle. Moments later, Mr. Shealy lost control of his vehicle, traveled off the roadway, and struck a tree. Mr. Shealy’s passenger, Jarelle Gibbs (DOB: 5/15/94), later died as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident.
The New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office has adopted a policy in which all police pursuits, within their jurisdiction, that result in serious physical injury or death will have an independent review. Therefore, New Haven State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin requested that the Connecticut State Police Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Squad (C.A.R.S.) conduct the investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident.
After a thorough review of witness statements, surveillance videos and physical evidence, the State’s Attorney’s Office has concluded that no officers were actively engaged in a pursuit at the time of the crash.
The State’s Attorney thanks the Connecticut State Police Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Squad for their thorough investigation and the Hamden Police Department for their cooperation and professionalism during the pendency of this investigation.
As a result of the events on August 17, 2018, Brandon Shealy was arrested on multiple charges. State’s Attorney Griffin stresses that charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.