Inspector general report shows police tactics were flawed in deadly Ansonia shooting

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The police tactics used during an officer-involved shooting in Ansonia last year were flawed, according to the Office of Inspector General.

However, while the justifiability of the shooting was deemed questionable, the inspector general said there was insufficient evidence to support criminal prosecution.

The shooting happened on Feb. 4, 2024 around 5 p.m.

Three officers from Bridgeport shot and killed Mark Lewis Bell at an address on Division Street in Ansonia, the report said.

It identified the officers as Bridgeport officers Matthew Hoffman and Matthew Hoffman, and Sgt. Christopher Robinson.

The report established that that Bridgeport police had information from a confidential informant that an individual identified only as “JB” was a drug dealer who was always in possession of a gun.

At around 4:15 p.m., the informant notified Hoffman that JB was coming to the informant’s home.

Officers initiated an operations plan to conduct a motor vehicle stop of JB whom the informant stated was driving a silver/grey Mercedes-Benz SUV.

The information notified Hoffman of JB’s arrival.

Hoffman asked the informant if the informant had seen a gun, and the informant said that the gun was in JB’s “waist strap,” according to the report.

Officers positioned in the area observed the Mercedes headed westbound on Grand Street in Bridgeport.

“When the vehicle turned onto Oakview Circle, Officer Hoffman activated the lights and sirens on his police cruiser in order to conduct a motor vehicle stop,” the report read. “The operator, later identified as Jonathan Mark Lewis Bell, ignored the lights and sirens and entered a parking lot and then drove through the backyard of an apartment building and back into traffic.”

Bell then proceeded through Bridgeport city streets and onto Route 8 northbound with police in pursuit.

“The pursuit proceeded through five towns and ended when the Mercedes crashed into a house at 265 Division St., Ansonia,” the report said. “Officer Hoffman and Officer Luis Ortiz were in the lead pursuing police vehicle. When the Mercedes crashed, Officer Hoffman’s cruiser struck the Mercedes’ driver’s door.”

Bell initially tried to back away from the house but was blocked by Robinson’s police vehicle.

Rivera-Colon arrived on scene moments later, the report said.

“The officers took positions around the Mercedes and directed the occupants to show their hands,” the report read. “Officer Hoffman was near the driver’s side window and Officer Rivera went to the passenger side. A woman in the passenger seat, later identified as Bell’s girlfriend, was holding her hands up and appeared to be afraid.”

In order to distract Bell, Robinson broke the Mercedes’ front and rear driver’s side windows.

“Bell then smashed out the shattered glass with his hand,” the report said. “Bell appeared to have a crack pipe in his mouth.”

Rivera-Colon then opened the passenger door and pulled Bell’s girlfriend out of the Mercedes.

At that time, Bell quickly moved to his right toward the passenger seat, the inspector general said.

“Hoffman, believing that Bell was reaching for a gun, fired his gun one-time striking Bell,” the report said.

Rivera-Colon misinterpreted Hoffman’s shot as coming from Bell and returned fire.

“Hearing gunshots, Sgt. Robinson assumed that Bell was firing at police and fired into the Mercedes,” the report read. “Both Officers Hoffman and Rivera-Colon fired additional times.”

Following the shooting, Bell was pulled from the car. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Police searched him but did not find a gun.

“No gun was found in the front seat area of the Mercedes or on Bell’s girlfriend,” the report said. “At the time that he was fatally shot, Bell was unarmed.”