UPDATED: Norwich man in critical condition after being shot during scuffle with police

Norwich — A city man convicted in the past of resisting arrest was in critical condition Wednesday afternoon after allegedly being shot by a Norwich police officer Tuesday night.

Fernando Velasquez, 41, suffered what police called a non-life-threatening wound during an altercation with police outside 89 Oneco St., his last known address.

Lt. J. Paul Vance, state police spokesman, said three officers responded to that address at 8:48 p.m. after receiving reports of three men in a physical dispute.

Police broke up the fight and two of the suspects — identified by Norwich police as Anthony Velasquez, 19, and Daniel Rivera, 20 — complied with officers' orders. Vance said Fernando Velasquez, the father of Anthony, refused to listen. The officers attempted to calm him but he continued to be combative, Vance said.

Fernando Velasquez assaulted the officers while they were trying to handcuff him, police said. A gun belonging to one of the officers discharged during the struggle.

Fernando Velasquez continued to fight with police even though he'd been shot, Vance said.

The veteran officer whose gun discharged will be placed, per protocol, on paid administrative, Norwich Police Chief Louis Fusaro said Wednesday.

The names of the officers have not been released, but Vance said they would be identified Thursday.

Fernando Velasquez initially was taken to the William W. Backus Hospital but later was transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he underwent surgery and is expected to survive.

Anthony Velasquez, of 89 Oneco St., was charged Tuesday with assault on a police officer, interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct. He was held overnight on $20,000 bond and arraigned Wednesday in Norwich.

Rivera, of 66 Jay St., New London, was charged Tuesday with interfering with an officer. He was held overnight on $5,000 bond and arraigned Wednesday. A Norwich Superior Court clerk said Wednesday that Rivera's case was continued until Feb. 22.

Outside the Oneco Street house Wednesday afternoon, a fresh pool of blood and surgical pads were strewn in the road.

Vance said Fusaro and the New London State's Attorney Office requested that state police take over the investigation.

According to the Norwich Police Department's policy on use of force, an officer must use only the "amount and type of force that is reasonably necessary to effectively bring an incident under control, while protecting the lives of the officer and others."

The department defines deadly physical force as force which can be reasonably expected to cause death or serious physical injury.

Besides defending themselves or another person, police also may use deadly physical force to prevent the escape from custody of a person the officer believes has committed or attempted to commit a felony involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious injury.

Vance did not say how or why the weapon was discharged.

Court records show that Fernando Velasquez served 90 days in prison after he was sentenced on April 11, 2008, for two counts of interfering with police/resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in a case in Norwich.

Norwich police arrested him again Dec. 12 and charged him with second-degree breach of peace. He was expected to appear in Norwich Superior Court today in that case.

All three officers were taken to the Backus Hospital where they were treated and released. Fusaro said two of the three officers will need "follow-up medical treatment."

i.larraneta@theday.com

s.goldstein@theday.com