Inspector General Criticizes Bridgeport Police Tactics

The Office of the Inspector General has found that the police shooting of Jonathan Mark Lewis Bell in 2024 was legally justified but marred by flawed tactics. Bell was pursued by Bridgeport police officers after a tip about his alleged possession of guns and narcotics. The chase, which spanned multiple towns and exceeded speeds of 100 mph, ended when Bell crashed into a residence in Ansonia. Officers, believing Bell was reaching for a weapon, opened fire, but it was later determined that Bell was unarmed. The Inspector General's report criticized the police for failing to de-escalate the situation and recommended consequences for substandard police work. Despite the flaws, the report concluded that there was insufficient evidence for criminal prosecution against the officers involved.