A state inspector general’s report released Tuesday found that an ambulance called to the scene of a police shooting in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was diverted to an officer who had been involved in the pursuit before paramedics later transported the man who had been shot. The report also concluded that the officer who fired at Dyshan Best had reason to fear for his own safety because Best had a gun in his hand, according to video.
Best, 39, was shot in the back last year as he fled from officers in Bridgeport, the report said. The shooting took place on March 31, leaving Best bleeding with severe internal injuries.
The report by Inspector General Eliot Prescott described a delay in transporting Best to the hospital. The first ambulance called to take Best arrived at 6:02 p.m., about 14 minutes after the shooting, but the report said other officers urged that ambulance to be used instead to transport Officer Erin Perrotta, who had been involved in the foot chase.
Paramedics reported that Perrotta declined treatment in the ambulance. In the report, Perrotta was quoted saying, “I am fine, I just needed to get out of here,” and another officer described Perrotta at the time as “visibly hysterical (crying and breathing rapidly) and had blood all over her uniform.”
A second ambulance arrived at about 6:12 p.m. Hospital records cited in the report said Best was brought in for treatment at 6:22 p.m.—about 14 minutes after Perrotta got to the hospital. Best died at 7:41 p.m. while he was undergoing treatment for the gunshot wound, which the report said damaged his liver and right kidney.
The report did not say whether the delay in waiting for another ambulance contributed to Best’s death. One of Best’s nieces, Tatiana Barrett, told The Associated Press that the report’s details angered and saddened family and friends and that the family believes Best could have survived if he was taken to the hospital in the first ambulance.
“Honestly it’s heartbreaking hearing all these details,” Barrett said. She said her family was looking for justice and that they believe Best was “murdered,” though the inspector general’s report reached a different conclusion about the officer’s use of force during the shooting.
Bridgeport police spokesperson Shawnna White declined to comment Wednesday when asked about the report’s account of Perrotta taking the first ambulance. In an email, White said the police department’s Internal Affairs Division would conduct its own investigation; she did not disclose whether Perrotta’s employment status was affected by the shooting probe, though the report said Perrotta was on administrative leave due to an unrelated matter.
The report reconstructed how officers responded after a 911 call about a brawl involving about 30 people, including some who had guns. A witness pointed officers to two men in an SUV and said they had a gun, according to the report.
On police body camera video, Perrotta approached the passenger side of the vehicle, opened the door, and asked Best to step out so she could pat him down. The video showed Best in the passenger seat holding a bottle of alcohol, a vape pen and a cellphone. After Best got out, he ran away, and officers chased him.
During the pursuit, the report said Best pulled out a 9 mm handgun. Officer Yoon Heo fired his gun twice, striking Best once as he ran into a lot filled with disabled cars, the report said, and the inspector general concluded that the shooting was justified because Best pointed his gun backward at Heo.
The report described the exchange captured on video after Best was wounded. Best said, “I got shot,” and Heo responded, “You pulled a gun on me,” before Best said “No I didn’t.” Heo then said, “Yeah you did,” and the report said Prescott determined that a handgun was found near Best at the scene. Prescott also said the police body camera video clearly showed Best holding a pistol.
Best’s family lawyer, Darnell Crosland, disputed that Best had a gun and said Best was instead holding a vape pen, according to the AP. Barrett said Best was a truck driver who returned to his hometown of Bridgeport to attend a friend’s funeral.