FBI Joins New Haven PD Probe Involving Ansonia Witness

The FBI wants to see what Ansonia’s Jennifer Gondola recorded on her camera phone last weekend in New Haven. She isn’t saying yes, yet.

The agency Tuesday joined a New Haven police department internal civil-rights investigation into an alleged beating of a handcuffed man who’d been fighting with cops in the Temple Plaza courtyard behind Pulse nightclub early Saturday.

Gondola, who had been at Pulse with friends, recorded the alleged beating — confirmed by her and other witness in Independent interviews — on her cell phone.

She said Sgt. Chris Rubino interrupted the beating to demand she turn over the phone. She refused, put it in her bra. Rubino then ordered a female officer to retrieve it. Then he ordered Gondola arrested for interfering.”

He refused to return her phone. He said he needed it for evidence.” Police union President Arpad Tolnay defended Rubino’s actions, saying he needed evidence” of a crime.” Gondola said the only crime” she recorded involved Rubino’s own actions.

The department launched an internal investigation into the incident Monday upon being contacted about it from the Independent. The department is looking into whether Rubino violated a department order against preventing citizens from recording officers’ actions in public.

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