CT trooper's ramming was unjustified deadly force, inspector general found, but no charges
On Nov. 24, 2025, Connecticut State Police Trooper Wilfred Blanchette chased a Honda Accord driven by Jesus Santiago, with passenger Tyloine Reddick, on Route 2 from Montville through Norwich toward Colchester, and with approval from Sgt. Gordon Leslie deliberately rammed it three times, pushing it into the median guardrail. In a July 2, 2026 report, Inspector General Eliot Prescott concluded two of the collisions were deadly physical force that was not legally justified, and that the supervisor's permission should not have been given. He declined to prosecute, citing unclear law on forced-stop rammings and the sergeant's approval, and left any discipline to a State Police internal affairs review. Leslie's own pursuit critique gave contradictory conclusions, at one point stating the chase was not within department or statewide pursuit policy. No one was seriously hurt. No discipline has been reported.
However, I have decided not to pursue criminal charges against W. Blanchette.
The state's inspector general has found that a Montville state trooper's use of deadly force when he rammed a fleeing vehicle multiple times was "not justified" but has declined to pursue criminal charges against the trooper.
Blanchette drove into the rear quarter of the Honda, putting it into a spin.
I further conclude that his use of deadly physical force was not legally justified under the totality of the circumstances. For the reasons stated in this report, however, I have decided not to pursue criminal charges against W. Blanchette.
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Told investigators the driver was speeding and swerving and the plate did not match the car, giving him probable cause.
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No outcome recorded yet.