Teen Faces New Charges in Crash That Killed Hartford Police Officer
A Connecticut teenager, Richard Barrington, 18, found himself in more legal trouble as he was arraigned on Thursday. The charges against him now include manslaughter and driving under the influence in connection with a tragic car crash. This incident claimed the life of Hartford police officer Robert “Bobby” Garten and left another officer, Brian Kearney, seriously injured.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on September 6 when Barrington, a high school junior, attempted to evade a routine traffic stop. He ignored red lights and collided with the passenger side of a police cruiser responding to a separate emergency call.
Officer Garten, a dedicated eight-year veteran of the Hartford police force, lost his life as a result of the crash. Officer Kearney, who was also in the cruiser, suffered serious injuries but has since been released from the hospital.
The initial charges against Barrington were related to the events leading up to the crash. However, on Thursday, authorities added more serious charges, including first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault, and driving under the influence.
Barrington appeared in Hartford Superior Court to face these new charges, but his public defender has not yet provided a statement regarding the case. Barrington remains in custody on a bail set at $1 million, and it’s important to note that he had no previous criminal record.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit released by state police, Barrington admitted that he fled the traffic stop because his car was unregistered, he didn’t possess a driver’s license, and he had marijuana in his possession. He also confessed to having smoked marijuana approximately an hour before the tragic collision.
This heartbreaking incident has deeply affected the Hartford community, as evidenced by the outpouring of support from law enforcement officers across the region during Officer Garten’s memorial service last week.