NORWICH, Conn. (AP) - Norwich police used appropriate force in last year’s fatal shooting of a man who authorities said had pointed a weapon at officers during a standoff, a state prosecutor said Tuesday.
The use of deadly force on Michael Dugas was necessary for officers to defend themselves, New London State’s Attorney Michael Regan said in the report.
Dugas, 52, was shot after he called police to a park on Feb. 24, 2013. Police said they tried to communicate with Dugas when he drew what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it at them.
The officers fired 41 shots, striking Dugas six times in the chest, abdomen, hip and thigh. Police later determined Dugas was holding a pellet gun.
“The test is not whether it was in fact necessary for the officer to use deadly physical force in order to defend against the imminent use of deadly physical force,” Regan wrote. “The test is whether the officer believed it was necessary to use deadly physical force and whether such belief was objectively reasonable, based on the facts and circumstances known to the police officer at the time the decision to use deadly force was made.”
The family of Dugas has filed a lawsuit accusing police of using unreasonable force.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.