A state trooper has been arrested after allegedly taking jewelry from a person who died in a motorcycle crash in September.
Trooper Aaron Huntsman, 43, an 18-year veteran of the state police, faces two counts of third-degree larceny. He is also charged with interfering with police and tampering with evidence.
Huntsman's police powers have been suspended, according to a release from the state police, and an internal affairs investigation is underway.
The crash happened on Sept. 22, according to Lt. J. Paul Vance. John Scalesse, 49, of Arrowhead Drive in Orange, was driving his motorcycle on the Merritt Parkway near exit 44 in Fairfield when he drove into the back of a truck. Scalesse was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Huntsman and other emergency personnel went to the crash and conducted the investigation.
After the accident, Scalesse's family members told police that they couldn't account for some jewelry, clothing and cash. They later found the clothing at the hospital, but the other items were still missing.
State police investigated and found the missing jewelry, which had not been logged into evidence by the trooper who led the investigation, the release states. They also found a large amount of cash in the trooper's police car.
Huntsman was a vice president of the state police union for more than two years, said Andrew Matthews, president of the union. He resigned his position as soon as the allegations came to light, Matthews said.
"If the allegations of misconduct are proven true, we wish that it not reflect the perception of the police or its union," he said.
Huntsman was arrested at Troop I in Bethany. He was released after posting $5,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in Bridgeport on Dec. 10, the release states.
Copyright 2012 - The Hartford Courant
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
