FBI arrests 4 Conn. officers in town where investigation found pattern of anti-Hispanic bias

FBI arrests 4 Conn. officers in town where investigation found pattern of anti-Hispanic bias

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Four police officers, including the president of the local police union, were arrested by the FBI on Tuesday on charges that they assaulted illegal immigrants and created false reports to cover up abuses in a New Haven suburb where a federal investigation found life was made miserable for Hispanics.

The East Haven officers assaulted individuals while they were handcuffed, unlawfully searched Latino businesses, and harassed and intimidated individuals, including advocates, witnesses and other officers who tried to investigate or report misconduct or abuse the officers committed, according to the federal indictment.

Federal authorities began investigating police in 2009 in East Haven, where the federal probe last month documented a pattern of abuse. Latino business owners said rough treatment by police drove many newcomers from Mexico and Ecuador to leave the city.

The arrests were welcomed by Hispanic business owners in East Haven, including Luis Rodriguez, an immigrant from Ecuador who had complained of harassment by police at his Los Amigos Grocery store.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/fbi-arrests-4-conn-officers-on-conspiracy-obstruction-charges-after-civil-rights-probe/2012/01/24/gIQAVBVKNQ_story.html