Family of fatally shot man sues West Hartford police, seeks federal investigation

The family of a man shot by a Connecticut police officer as he tried to flee in a stolen car while being attacked by a police dog filed a wrongful-death lawsuit and called Wednesday for a federal civil rights investigation of the department.

The mother and sister of Mike Alexander-Garcia Jr. joined their attorneys at a press conference, criticizing the officer’s actions and alleging racial profiling by West Hartford police in the deadly August 2023 standoff. They said they are seeking justice and accountability .

“To the officer who took my son’s life, you cannot fathom the pain and loss you have caused our family,” his mother, Jacqueline Garcia, said in a statement. “I hope that through this tragedy there can be reflection and change so that no other family has to endure the heartache we are experiencing.”

The lawsuit filed in state court last week names West Hartford Officer Andrew Teeter, the police department and the city, alleging violations of Alexander-Garcia’s constitutional rights, state laws and police policies and procedures. Attorneys for Alexander-Garcia’s family have notified the city that they are seeking damages that could exceed $75 million.

The shooting remains under investigation by the state inspector general’s office, which reviews all deadly uses of force by police nationwide to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

West Hartford released a statement saying it is awaiting the inspector general’s final report.

“West Hartford is committed to police accountability and transparency,” wrote city corporation counsel Dallas Dodge. “A lawsuit at this stage contains unproven allegations and it is important to note that this matter is still under investigation by the Office of the Inspector General.”

Teeter did not return an email seeking comment.

Authorities said the series of events unfolded on Aug. 8, 2023, after a license plate reader alerted police to a stolen car. The police chased the car, which crashed into two other vehicles and became disabled. Police said they caught another man driving the stolen car, while Alexander-Garcia fled.

Alexander-Garcia, 34, then attempted to carjack two vehicles before entering an auto tire store and getting into an SUV that was being serviced, police said.

According to the surveillance, dash and video camera, Teeter ran into the store and threw his police dog through the open passenger door window of the SUV, then opened the door and ordered the dog to attack Alexander-Garcia.

The dog bit Alexander-Garcia as he sat in the driver’s seat yelling “Please! Don’t kill me!”

Teeter was in the passenger seat with the dog when the SUV backed out of the service area, turned around, glanced at a parked police car and a tree and began to drive away. After yelling “don’t do it” and “I’m going to shoot you” several times, Teeter fired several shots into Alexander-Garcia’s back.

The SUV crashed into a utility pole. Alexander-Garcia’s attorneys argued that Teeter fired three of the five shots after the vehicle struck the pole.

“Mike was surrendering to the police when he was shot,” said Peter Bowman, an attorney with BBB Attorneys representing Alexander-Garcia’s family. “He pleaded for the officer’s life and yet Officer Teeter chose to shoot him five times.”

Teeter was treated for a broken rib and cuts to his head, while the police dog was not injured, officials said.

The lawsuit alleges that Teeter did not issue clear commands to Alexander-Garcia and violated department policies by throwing the police dog into the SUV and entering the vehicle instead of trying to defuse the situation. It also argues that Alexander-Garcia’s actions did not justify the use of deadly force.

In calling for a federal civil rights investigation, Alexander-Garcia’s attorneys pointed to annual state reports on police traffic stops nationwide that said West Hartford police pulled over minority drivers at disproportionate rates compared to drivers white. Alexander-Garcia was Hispanic. Teeter’s race and ethnicity were not disclosed.

Ken Krayeske, another attorney for Alexander-Garcia’s family, said the police department has not taken adequate steps to address the disparities between traffic stops, despite the data. He said formal requests for a federal investigation have been made to the U.S. attorney general’s office and the Department of Justice.

While state reports highlight disparities in traffic stops by race and ethnicity, they note that the data does not provide sufficient evidence of racial profiling.

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