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Connecticut Man Charged With Hate Crime For Throwing Brick At Cop Car
While reportedly acknowledging his hatred for police, Devon Adams-Almstad allegedly said he targeted a white officer because of a recent controversy sparked by a "trigger happy" cop in Hartford, Conn.
A Connecticut man was hit with hate crime charges for allegedly throwing a brick at a cop car on Monday night.
Devon Adams-Almstad, 20, was arrested after police say he smashed Hartford Police Officer Carlo Faienza’s cruiser window with the projectile, which narrowly missed the officer’s head, according to the Hartford Courtant.
Faienza suffered minor cuts to one of his arms but declined medical attention for the injury.
“The suspect spontaneously uttered he hates cops and was targeting a white cop due to the recent events in the news,” Hartford Assistant Police Chief Rafael Medina III said in a press release.
Faienza also said that Adams-Almstad expressed to him his hatred for law enforcement, and was targeting a white police officer in retaliation for a recent controversy involving a Hartford police officer.
Sgt. Stephen Barone was caught on camera last week reportedly telling suspected trespassers that he was "a little trigger happy, I’m not going to lie.” He made the casual-yet-alarming comments after telling the group that they'd be checked for drugs and therefore shouldn't try to make a run for it, according to WFSB Channel 3.
Barone is currently on administrative leave while the department handles the investigation into his alleged comments.
Meanwhile, after being attacked on Monday, Faienza broadcasted a description of his attacker, and cops were able to cuff Adams-Almstad. By Tuesday, he was charged with first-degree criminal mischief, assault on police, reckless endangerment, hate crime, and breach of peace. His bail was set at $100,000.
It was not immediately clear whether Adams-Almstad has a lawyer.
"Yesterday’s incident involving an individual who was clearly motivated by his hatred of the police is unnecessary and will not be tolerated,” police said on Tuesday. “It is another example of the difficulties Police face every day.”
[Photo: Hartford Police Department]
