Middletown officer's shooting of man who attacked her with hammer justified: responsible – NBC Connecticut

The Office of Inspector General released its report on the investigation into a Middletown police officer who shot and hit the man who attacked her with a hammer last August and said the use of force was justified.

The report released Wednesday morning states that Middletown Police Detective Karli Travis reacted reasonably in self-defense when she shot Winston Tate, 52, while responding to Liberty Street around 6:30 a.m. on the 12th. august.

That morning, Travis was responding to reports that someone was screaming and breaking glass in the driveway.

When she arrived, Tate swung a hammer, charged the officer, hit her with a hammer and attempted to grab her gun after she fell to the ground, the Office of the Inspector's report says general.

Tate also grabbed Travis' gun and tried to take it out of his hands during the altercation and she was shot in the hand, according to the report.

After the altercation, he was also diagnosed with a concussion.

Tate was shot in the shoulder, hand and elbow and was transported to Hartford Hospital, where he was treated.

The Office of Inspector General report said blood tests showed Tate had alcohol and marijuana in his system.

He was charged with second-degree assault, assault against public safety personnel, attempted first-degree assault, second-degree assault and obstructing the action of 'an agent.

Tate has pleaded not guilty and is due in court on August 13.

The Office of Inspector General said Travis tried to deescalate the situation, but his efforts failed.

“Travis’s belief that she was at risk of serious physical harm was objectively reasonable, prompting him to use deadly force in self-defense,” the report states.

“In this situation, the hammer could be considered a deadly weapon, capable of causing serious physical injury, which she actually suffered in the form of a concussion,” it continues.

In March, Travis was inducted into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame for her heroism in answering the call.

You can read the full report here.