The state police internal affairs division is reviewing a video that surfaced recently that appears to show several troopers discussing what charges to levy against a man who was protesting a DUI enforcement checkpoint near Park Road in West Hartford last year.
Michael Picard, 27, of East Hartford, was charged with creating a public disturbance and reckless use of the highway for the Sept. 11 incident in which a trooper can be heard saying on a recording of the encounter, “We gotta cover our asses.”
Picard told The Courant Thursday that he was standing near a state police DUI enforcement checkpoint near the on-ramp to I-84 on Park Road at about 7 p.m. holding a sign that read “Cops ahead. Keep calm and remain silent.” He said he also had a handgun visible in a holster on his waist because Connecticut is an open-carry state and he had a valid permit for the gun.
He posted several videos of the encounter to his YouTube page on Monday that appear to show several troopers discussing the legality of Picard’s actions and trying to decide what charges to levy against him. Picard identifies three of the officers he encountered in the video.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!
