ANSONIA, Conn. — The Inspector General's office has released more details into a fatal officer-involved shooting in Ansonia by Bridgeport police.
The lead-up to the shooting began around 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 4 when the Bridgeport Police Department's Tactical Narcotics Team was told that a man was driving around the city with guns and narcotics.
The man, later identified as 41-year-old Jonathan Mark Lewish Bell, was also reportedly using different vehicles in the city, one being a Mercedes-Benz SUV.
According to the report, while officers were surveilling the area of Oak Street, they saw Bell driving around the SUV with a woman in the passenger seat. She has not been identified in the report.
Bridgeport officers tried to pull over Bell, but according to reports, Bell did not comply. He instead took off, driving through the city and onto Route 8 northbound, where he refused to stop for police. The chase ended when Bell drove off Route 8 and into the town of Ansonia.
Once in town, Bell crashed into a home on Division Street.
Bridgeport officers Matthew Hoffman, Wilberto Rivera-Colon, and Sgt. Chris Robinson approached the SUV, shouting for Bell to put his hands up. The woman was pulled from the SUV while Bell reportedly "reached for an object" and refused to show his hands.
The report said due to Bell seemingly reaching for something, the three officers fired their handguns.
Police then pulled Bell from the SUV and rendered medical aid until an ambulance could take Bell to Griffin Hospital in Derby.
Once there, Bell was pronounced dead around 6:45 p.m.
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The Inspector General's office released body camera footage in relation to the shooting, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Bell was shot in his head and torso. At this time, a toxicology report is not available.
In the meantime, the Bridgeport police officers involved will be on modified duty, according to the Bridgeport mayor's office.
“I have the utmost confidence that the Office of the Inspector General will ensure a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation. Regardless of the circumstances, loss of life is tragic. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family of the deceased,” Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter said in a statement Friday.
"I can assure our residents that the Bridgeport Police Department does its best to mitigate criminal activity in the safest and most efficient way possible," Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said in a statement. "We support our Bridgeport police officers as they continue to partner with the community by providing quality police services and creating a safe environment through fair and impartial enforcement of the law."
The Office of the Inspector General, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, Ansonia Police Department, Bridgeport Police Department, and the Milford Judicial District State's Attorney's Office are all investigating the deadly shooting.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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