By Justin Muszynski
Hartford Courant
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A man shot and killed by police during a foot chase earlier this week in Bridgeport is seen on body camera video running away from officers and taking out what appeared to be a handgun, according to a preliminary report release Friday from the Connecticut Office of Inspector General .
Police claimed that they recovered a Highpoint Compact 9mm handgun near the area where the man, identified as 39-year-old Dyshan Best , was shot on Monday, Inspector General Robert Devlin , Jr. said.
Devlin said his preliminary investigation found that officers with the Bridgeport Police Department responded to East Main Street around 5:50 p.m. on a report of a large fight where information suggested that people had gathered in connection with a funeral. Police also received information alleging that an occupant of a black Chevrolet Tahoe in the area had a gun, Devlin said.
Body camera footage released from the incident shows police approaching the vehicle before an officer opens the driver side door and the driver, a man, steps out. Bridgeport Officer Erin Perrotta can then be seen on her body camera approaching the passenger side of the truck where she opens the door and asks Best to step out. She tells him police have to pat both men down because “somebody said something about a firearm,” the footage shows.
In response, Best, who is holding a bottle of Rémy Martin liquor, points out of the front windshield and tells Perrotta “there’s a firearm down there,” according to the footage. Perrotta then tells the man that if he has nothing on him then it will be “quick” and “we’ll let you go,” the footage shows.
Best can then be seen stepping out of the truck, saying “alright,” before he turns toward the rear of the vehicle and takes off on foot, according to the footage. By this time, Bridgeport Officer Yoon Heo arrives at the scene and gets out of his cruiser. As Heo approaches the Tahoe he can see Best running away and begins chasing him along with Perrotta, the footage shows.
Perrotta immediately yells for Best to stop and tells him “I’m going to tase you,” the footage shows. She then draws her Taser as Heo appears to somewhat close the gap on Best.
Heo also draws his Taser and yells to Best “you’re gonna get tased, you’re gonna get (expletive) tased,” the footage shows.
Police chased Best past multiple buildings and into the parking lot of a gas station near the intersection of Beecher Street and Kossuth Street where he lost his shoes, according to Devlin. Hey’s body camera footage shows he deployed his Taser just after Best’s shoes fell off, but it appeared as though the prongs missed him.
Best then leads police out of the parking lot and down a small grassy hill where he stumbles and drops the liquor bottle, the footage shows. He then runs on the sidewalk along Kossuth Street and into a driveway near 1420 Kossuth St. , according to Devlin.
As Best runs into the driveway in between several vehicles he can be seen grabbing a black object in his right hand, at which point Heo opens fire and yells “yo, yo, yo” as Best falls to the ground, the footage shows. According to Devlin, he fired two rounds. The handgun police allegedly recovered was next to Best, Devlin said.
Officers treated Best at the scene until firefighters arrived, according to Devlin. He was taken in an ambulance to Bridgeport Hospital where he underwent surgery and was pronounced dead at 7:41 p.m. , Devlin said.
An autopsy performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner showed Best died of a gunshot wound to his torso. The death was ruled a homicide. According to Devlin, a toxicology report for Best had not been completed as of Friday.
Devlin’s office is investigating the shooting to determine if the use of deadly force was justified under Connecticut law. The investigation is being assisted by the Bridgeport Police Department , as well as the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad and the Bridgeport Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office.
During a news conference Friday afternoon, Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter said he believes the shooting appeared to be justified.
“What I viewed on the video — as I know use of force, as I know training — appears to be in line with the training and what the use of force policy is set forth,” Porter said, adding that ultimate determination will come from the Inspector General’s office, “not me.”
“Just like everyone else I viewed it and I have an opinion,” said Porter, who declined to comment on specifics surrounding the investigation.
According to Porter, Heo has less than two years of experience as a police officer and will likely remain on paid administrative leave until the investigation is concluded. He has been receiving resources and support from the department as he processes what happens, Porter said.
The morning after the shooting, Porter said he met with family members of Best as well as other members of the community connected to the situation.
“I want to express my deepest condolences to the family of Dyshan Best,” Porter said. “Any loss of life is a tragedy, and I know this situation has deeply affected our entire community.
“We’ve been as transparent and offering as much support and help that we can,” he added. “The releasing of this statement and video is just the beginning. This is a process that’s going to take some time.”
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