A former New Haven police officer who was fired for punching and kicking a handcuffed man late last year has been charged with assault and breach of peace in connection with that incident.
Jason Santiago, 33, was arrested Tuesday by inspectors from the state Division of Criminal Justice and released on a promise to appear in court next month.
Body camera video captured an altercation on Christmas Day during which Santiago and other officers struggled with an intoxicated man. The video shows Santiago kicking the man in the groin while he was handcuffed on the ground, pulling the man’s hair and punching him in the face after the man spit on the officer.