Black Lives Matter activists gathered in front of Hartford's city hall in response to newly released video that appears to show a Hartford police sergeant stomping on the head of a handcuffed man on the ground.
"What we see in that video is not serving or protecting. It's violence and overreach and brutality against citizens," said Bishop John Selders, co-founder of Moral Monday CT.
It all began back in June following a wild police chase authorities say involved a stolen car and two men eventually arrested. Dash-cam footage released last week appears to show an officer stomp on the head of handcuffed suspect Emilio Diaz. Investigators identified the Hartford cop as Sergeant Sean Spell, a 20-year veteran of the department who retired a few weeks ago.
"These two men didn't get any chance at justice. One of them got their head stomped in," said Reverend Cathy Rion Starr, who took part in the protest.
Protestors say the timing of everything is curious, and city council members question the delay in releasing the video. Hartford police say they wanted it out sooner.
"Unfortunately, the video was not ours. It was a West Hartford police camera that captured it, and it was in the hands of the State's Attorney's office to decide when it would be released," said Deputy Chief Brian Foley.
The Hartford Police Department is conducting an internal investigation into the incident while the State’s Attorney’s Office conducts its own separate investigation.
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City council members also called for a review of "current policies that allow a law enforcement officer to accrue significant overtime and retire while under investigation." Police say, legally, it's out of their hands.
"I know of no state law, city ordinance, nothing in the collective bargaining agreements with the unions that would allow us to prevent somebody from retiring," said Foley.
Following the stand at city hall, protestors marched to Mayor Luke Bronin's home, where police say some protestors began blocking traffic. Eight were arrested for disorderly conduct and one received a summons.
Rachael Dagostino received that summons for excessive noise but says what's important for her is making sure they're heard.
"I'm hoping our message was out there and that it doesn't stop and justice is served for this gentleman who was witnessed on the ground," said Dagostino.
In response to the protest, Bronin released this statement:
I fully support the right to protest. I share the protestors' anger at the actions depicted on the video released last week, and it's offensive to me that anyone can retire with such a large pension from a financially distressed city, especially under the cloud of investigation of misconduct. I commend the Hartford Police Department for pushing prosecutors to allow the release of this video and for releasing the video within hours of getting permission to do so. We should be very proud that we have a police department that is committed to transparency, community engagement, and accountability.
NBC Connecticut reached out to the lawyer of Diaz.
Spell's attorney told the Associated Press that the video did not capture all that was going on at the scene.
