Bridgeport, CT, cop faces sex assault charges

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Bridgeport police officer was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault Saturday. The arrest was not his first. Over the past two years, police have arrested Steven Figueroa, 29, on domestic violence charges three times. The latest of those arrests took place in Shelton late last month. “I’m extremely disappointed,” Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez said. “After his first arrest, we spent a lot of time mentoring this officer, but now we are going to let the chips fall where they may.”

State Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, who is running for mayor shared her thoughts in an email, saying "I am assuming that this officer's gun was taken from him and he is not a threat to anyone during this investigation into sexual assault. His home should also be searched to ensure he does not have any other weapons. The accusation is a serious offense.”

The events that led to the latest allegations against Figueroa occurred on the morning of June 29, when neighbors reported a disturbance in Figueroa’s Shelton apartment, according to releases. But police could not make contact with anyone in the residence, they said. Later that morning, a woman reported that Figueroa would not let her leave his apartment after she went there in the early hours to retrieve personal belongings, a release said.

A 2-month-old baby was present during the disturbance, according to police, who charged Figueroa with disorderly conduct, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, second-degree unlawful restraint and risk of injury to a minor. They’ve now added first-degree sexual assault to that list.

Figueroa, who was released on $75,000 bond, is set to appear in state Superior Court in Derby on Monday, police said. Bridgeport police told NBC Connecticut they have placed Figueroa on administrative leave and that the city’s Office of Internal Affairs will conduct an investigation.

https://www.ctpost.com/connecticut/ctpost/article/Police-arrest-Shelton-man-on-sex-assault-charges-14110652.php

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1. Police officer was working while on probation

A city police officer arrested Saturday for the third time on domestic violence charges is still on a probation-type program from a previous arrest. But whether or not the charges linked to Saturday’s incident leads to a conviction, the police officer could still lose his job with Bridgeport police.

Steven Figueroa, 28, has six months left on his conditional discharge following his September 2018 conviction for second-degree breach of peace, court records show. Shelton police said Figueroa is accused of severely beating his girlfriend in front of their young child.

Figueroa is charged with third-degree assault, unlawful restraint, threatening and risk of injury to a child. He was released after posting $150,000 bond. He is to return to Superior Court in Derby on July 30.

City officials said Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez and Mayor Joe Ganim met Tuesday to discuss the accusations against Figueroa. During the Tuesday meeting, Perez confirmed to Ganim that he had ordered an independent investigation of the allegations through the Office of Internal Affairs. That internal investigation will determine if the allegations against Figueroa are true and whether he violated any police department policies in his actions. If violations occured, officials said, Figueroa will be reprimanded accordingly ...

https://www.ctpost.com/local/ctpost/article/Bridgeport-cop-was-still-on-probation-at-time-of-14067474.php