Resident alleges Hartford police forced entry and stalking; council to follow up

During public comment, Karen Jackson, a former Bridgeport city council member, and her son, Gabriel Frazier, said Hartford police entered the son's apartment without a warrant on Sept. 24 and later issued a citation that they dispute.

"They broke my son's door down without a warrant," said Karen Jackson, who told the City of Hartford council she had been on the phone during the incident. Jackson said her son was taken outside in the cold and that she has requested body-camera footage and other records through FOIA but had not received them.

Her son, Gabriel Frazier, told the council he had moved into his first apartment in September, was preparing for work, and said officers forced entry and then processed him. "They broke my front door saying that was the reason behind it. I had no shirt on. They said I was going to jail," Frazier said. He said he lost his job because of the incident and described lasting physical and psychological effects.

Council staff asked Jackson and Frazier for contact information so staff could follow up. Council members said they would have staff assist in obtaining relevant records and reach out to the family to collect further details. The council did not take formal action during public comment.

Jackson said she filed public-records requests for body-worn camera footage and other police records and that she was billed for copies despite identifying as indigent. The council did not comment on the status of those requests. Frazier said he faces a court date and that police had asked him to accept probable cause language as a condition to drop the case.

Council members requested additional information about the incident date and said staff would help the family obtain records and contact the city's police oversight resources as appropriate.