[UPDATED] Ex-East Haven Police Officer Gets 30-Month Prison Sentence

UPDATE at 5:15 p.m.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, weighs in on Cari's sentencing today.  

“David Cari was entrusted to protect the people of East Haven. Instead, he violated that trust by arresting a priest when there was no basis to do so and attempting to cover up that illegal arrest with a false police report," Daly stated in a press release Tuesday. "Today’s sentence is appropriate as corrupt law enforcement cause great harm to the integrity of the legal system.  It is always a sad day when a police officer is sentenced to prison as the vast majority of officers in East Haven and in this country serve honorably and bravely.” 


ORIGINAL POST

A federal judge has sentenced former East Haven Police Officer David Cari to 30 months in prison for his role in racial profiling within the department, according to New Haven Register reporter Evan Lips.

The sentencing of fellow former EHPD Officer Dennis Spaulding was expected to come later this afternoon. But it has been postponed until Thursday due to today's winter storm, Lips reported via his Twitter account.

Guilty Verdict

Last October, a jury found Cari and Spaulding guilty of federal charges that they violated the civil rights of Latino residents and others.

The two men were convicted on all charges: conspiracy against civil rights, deprivation of rights for making arrests without probable cause and "obstruction of justice for writing a false police report in the arrest of the Rev. James Manship.

Additionally, Spaulding was charged with using unreasonable force. 

Four Officers Indicted

Cari and Spaulding were among the four East Haven Police officers indicted as part of the U.S. Justice Department's investigation into alleged civil rights violations within the EHPD. Also arrested were Joseph Zullo and John Miller.

Zullo, who changed his plea to guilty, was sentenced to two years in prison in December.

Miller, who also changed his plea to guilty, is expected to be sentenced in February.