On December 11, 2017, Hartford Police Department (HPD) Internal Affairs Division (IAD) Investigators arrested HPD Sergeant Justin Torniero for violation of the following Connecticut General Statutes: 53a-119b(a)(1), Using a Motor Vehicle Without Permission (two counts); 53a-125b(a), Larceny in the Sixth Degree; and 53a-256(a), Computer Crime in the Fifth Degree.
Torniero was immediately suspended without pay, pending the adjudication of this case.
On March 14, 2018, multiple law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at 14 John Steele Drive in Farmington, Connecticut. The search warrant was in relation to illegal narcotics. John Butler (DOB 12/31/1965) was arrested by the Connecticut State Police and was found to be in possession of Hartford Police Department issued equipment. As a result, the Hartford Police Department Internal Affairs Division was immediately notified.
Internal Affairs Investigators conducted an extensive investigation which revealed that Justin Torniero stole the police equipment and provided the stolen property to Butler. The equipment stolen included a police-issued ballistic vest and a police-issued mountain bicycle.
Is was also discovered during the investigation that Torniero was utilizing cocaine and alcohol, while working in the capacity of a police sergeant for the City of Hartford.
Furthermore, Torniero would drive in a Hartford Police Department vehicle to Torniero’s residence in Farmington while in uniform to partake in cocaine and alcohol use.
On September 10, 2018, Internal Affairs Investigators submitted an arrest warrant to Hartford Superior Court, charging Torniero with violating Connecticut General Statutes: 53a-122(a)(4), Larceny in the First Degree (one count) and 53a-123(a)(4), Larceny in the Second Degree (three counts). After review, the arrest warrant was approved, and the court set a $175,000.00 bond.
On 09/11/18 at approximately 1815 hours, Torniero turned himself into IAD Investigators and the warrant was served. As of this writing, Torniero is currently being held on the judge-set bond of $175,000 with a scheduled court date of 09/12/18.