The man suspected of shooting a Stamford police officer in the face was on parole for a drug dealing conviction and is being held on $2.1 million.
Ephraim Goitom, 27, was charged with criminal attempted murder of a police officer.
He's accused of shooting Richard "Rock" Gasparino, a member of the city's Narcotics and Organized crime unit, in the face at 5:41 p.m. on Thursday as police were serving a warrant in an ongoing PCP investigation.
As police were going into 162 Lockwood Ave., shots were fired through the back door and Gasparino was shot in his neck and cheek.
The Hartford Courant reports that Gasparino has been released from the hospital after facial surgery and he will continue recovert at home.
As Goitom was arraigned, 50 police officers filled the five back rows of the courtroom. They said nothing and neither did Goitom.
Court records show multiple drug convictions for Goitom.
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He was convicted in 2001 for sale of a controlled substance and first-degree assault, in 2002 for sale of a hallucinogen and narcotic and possession on narcotics, and in 2006 and 2007 for sale of a hallucinogen and narcotic .
"That case will be going to court and I'd like to put it together appropriately so that when you shoot a policeman in the face ... you never see this man anymore, like forever," said Chief Nivakoff.
"He's a fine man and excellent police officer," said Chief Robert Nivakoff. "I think we are really fortunate that he is going to make it, that he's OK and that he's stable."
The chief said a couple of other officers were being treated for injuries but he would not elaborate on what those injuries were.
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