[naviga:img class="img-responsive" alt="Jeffrey A. Meninno" src="/Assets/news2015/0612DayMeninno.JPG"/]

Jeffrey A. Meninno

Groton — The state trooper who allegedly punched a man in the face at a Mystic bar Saturday told police he did it because the victim was making fun of him, according to an arrest report.

Police were called to Chapter One Fine Food and Drink at 32 W. Main St. at 12:58 a.m. At that point, officers learned the suspect — 52-year-old Jeffrey Meninno of 93 Ridgewood Ave., Waterford — had left on foot toward the Mystic drawbridge.

Patrol Officer Ryan Barile headed toward the bathroom, where the victim was trying to clean up. In his report, Barile said he found a floor that was covered in blood and a victim whose mouth was “very bloody.” Barile said the victim appeared to be unable to move his jaw, which likely was broken.

Sgt. Richard Sawyer also was in the bathroom. In his report, Sawyer said he tried to ask the victim questions, but the victim could barely talk. Sawyer said the victim’s jaw was swollen and it appeared there was damage to his teeth. Sawyer discontinued the questioning and medical personnel took the victim to the hospital.

By reviewing surveillance video footage, police learned Meninno was standing at the bar and talking to a man and a woman to his left just before the assault occurred. According to the report, Meninno repeatedly turned his attention to the victim, who was standing on his right. Meninno became increasingly agitated.

After "a series of words," the report states, Meninno delivered “at least two” left-hand punches to the victim’s face. At that point, the involved parties left the camera's view.

Police learned from witnesses that Meninno had to be forcibly removed from the bar. According to witnesses, Meninno shoved the person attempting to escort him out of the bar. Outside the bar, the report states, Meninno shoved that person again, then left.

After leaving the scene and contacting Waterford police, Groton officers headed to Meninno’s residence about 4:15 a.m. According to Barile and Sawyer, Meninno was in the driveway when they arrived and said, “Do what you gotta do.”

Sawyer said Meninno was stumbling slightly and smelled strongly of alcohol. Records show Meninno, who left his credit card at Chapter One, purchased a Bud Light draft and a Tanqueray while at the bar.

Barile said Meninno immediately began explaining what happened.

According to the report, Meninno told police he came to Chapter One to relax after dinner. The victim, he said, came over to his table multiple times to “break my balls.” He said the victim made fun of his shirt and asked if he was the father of the woman he was talking to. Meninno said he asked the victim to leave several times, but he didn’t listen. Meninno told police he then “threw three jabs” at the victim’s face with his left hand, according to the report.

Police photographed the outfit Meninno said he wore and the car he said he drove to the bar, the report states.

Police later met with the victim at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. In a signed, sworn statement, the victim told police he arrived at Chapter One about 12:55 a.m. As he stood at the bar, he said, the woman Meninno was talking to joked that Meninno was her father. The victim said when he laughed, Meninno threatened to hit him.

The victim said he walked away for a moment but came back to order his drink, at which point Meninno threatened him again. Thinking it was a joke, the victim said he turned away. The victim told police Meninno punched him three to four times while he wasn’t paying attention.

“I did not retaliate in any way,” the victim concluded.

While police were processing Meninno, the report states, Meninno made a comment about how, back in the day, you could “punch someone in the mouth and be done with it.” He allegedly used an expletive to describe the victim.

He also asked officers about his charges and denied assaulting the person who escorted him from the bar.

Later, the report continues, Meninno acknowledged that he was “100 percent wrong” and did not have the right to hit the victim, but said the victim wouldn’t leave him alone.

The victim, the report states, had to be taken to Yale New Haven Hospital to see specialists for his injuries.

State police said they have suspended Meninno’s police powers and confiscated his badge, cruiser and gun pending the outcome of the investigation. The matter has been referred to the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Professional Standards.

According to state data, Meninno was hired in February 1997 and was on track to earn about $91,500 in 2016. Comptroller records show he began receiving workers' compensation without pay in September and extended that leave in January.

According to the arrest report, Meninno works out of Troop E in Montville.

Meninno recently served as a vice president of the state police union, but union officials said they removed him from the position earlier this year. They did not clarify why.

Meninno was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree assault and breach of peace. Released on a $2,500 nonsurety bond, he is scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on June 26.

l.boyle@theday.com