The Connecticut Office of Inspector General is investigating the death of a man while in the custody of the Wolcott Police Department early Tuesday.
Officers responded to a residence on Dale Avenue around 12:59 a.m. Tuesday on a report of a person “freaking out,” according to a preliminary report released by Inspector General Robert J. Devlin, Jr.
Police body camera footage released on Wednesday shows 51-year-old Joseph Jackson outside the residence in a highly agitated state. “He was moving around, yelling gibberish, rocking back and forth,” Devlin said.
Bodycam footage from Officer Bryan Spiotti shows police telling Jackson an ambulance coming for him. “We’re just here to help you,” officers told Jackson.
Emergency medical services were called to take Jackson to the hospital. According to Devlin, Jackson appeared to be under the influence of some sort of substance. Officers were able to put Jackson into handcuffs for his safety despite him resisting.
As EMS arrived, Jackson reportedly remained in an agitated state, and he was given an unknown injection to calm him down, Devlin said.
Jackson reportedly went into cardiac arrest in the ambulance while still at the scene as the EMTs started CPR. As the ambulance headed to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, EMS continued to perform CPR. At Saint Mary’s, additional lifesaving efforts were attempted but Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:32 a.m., according to Devlin.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Tuesday. “At present, the determination of Jackson’s cause and manner of death are pending further investigation,” Devlin said.
The investigation is ongoing, according to Devlin.
Originally Published: June 4, 2025 at 9:14 PM EDT
