State Investigation Reveals Critical Ambulance Delay in Police Shooting Case
A newly released state investigation has uncovered troubling details about the medical response following a police shooting in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where a man who was shot by officers and later died had to wait an additional 10 minutes for an ambulance. According to the report, the first ambulance that arrived at the scene was used to transport a police officer who was experiencing what was described as a "mild anxiety attack," rather than the critically wounded victim.
The Shooting Incident and Initial Response
Dyshan Best, a 39-year-old Black man, was shot in the back on March 31 last year as he fled from officers. The report, released Tuesday by Connecticut Inspector General Eliot Prescott, concluded that the shooting was justified because Best had a 9 mm handgun in his hand during the foot chase, and the pursuing officer, Yoon Heo, had reasonable fear for his safety. Body camera footage reportedly shows Best pointing the gun backward at Heo as he ran into a lot filled with disabled cars.
However, the investigation raised serious questions about the events that unfolded after the shooting. Best sustained severe internal injuries, including damage to his liver and right kidney, and was left bleeding on the ground. The first ambulance was called to transport him to the hospital and arrived at the scene at 6:02 p.m., approximately 14 minutes after the shooting occurred.
The Ambulance Diversion and Its Consequences
Instead of taking Best, the first ambulance was used to transport Officer Erin Perrotta, who had been involved in the foot chase. At the urging of other officers, paramedics took Perrotta away, even though she reportedly declined treatment in the ambulance, stating, "I am fine, I just needed to get out of here." Other officers described her as "visibly hysterical (crying and breathing rapidly) and had blood all over her uniform."
A second ambulance arrived at about 6:12 p.m., and hospital records indicate Best was brought in for treatment at 6:22 p.m. This was roughly 14 minutes after Perrotta arrived at the hospital. Best died at 7:41 p.m. while undergoing treatment for his gunshot wound. The inspector general's report did not determine whether the 10-minute delay in waiting for another ambulance contributed to his death, but the timing has sparked outrage among Best's family and community members.
Family Reactions and Ongoing Investigations
One of Best's nieces, Tatiana Barrett, told The Associated Press that the revelations from the report have angered and saddened the family and friends. They firmly believe that Best could have survived if he had been taken to the hospital in the first ambulance. "Honestly it's heartbreaking hearing all these details," Barrett said. "We were looking for justice. In our community, we don't know what justice looks like. We want justice for my uncle. We truly believe he was murdered."
Bridgeport police spokesperson Shawnna White declined to comment on Wednesday when asked about Perrotta taking the first ambulance, stating that the police department's Internal Affairs Division would conduct its own investigation. Perrotta is currently on administrative leave due to an unrelated matter, which White did not disclose. Phone and email messages were left for Perrotta, Mayor Joe Ganim's office, Prescott's office, the city police union, and Darnell Crosland, a lawyer for Best's family.
Background of the Incident and Disputed Claims
The series of events began when someone called 911 to report a brawl involving about 30 people, including some who had guns. A witness pointed officers to two men in an SUV, saying they had a gun. Perrotta approached the passenger's side and opened the door. Body camera video shows Best in the passenger seat, holding a bottle of alcohol, a vape pen, and a cellphone. After Perrotta asked him to step out for a pat-down, Best fled, leading to the chase.
During the chase, Best pulled out the handgun, according to the report. As he ran into the lot, Officer Heo fired twice, striking Best once. While wounded on the ground, Best said, "I got shot," to which Heo responded, "You pulled a gun on me." Best denied it, but Heo insisted. Prescott stated that a handgun was found near Best at the scene.
After the shooting, Crosland, the family's lawyer, disputed that Best had a gun, claiming he was instead holding a vape pen. Prescott countered that police body camera video clearly shows Best with a pistol in his hand. Barrett added that Best was a truck driver who had returned to his hometown of Bridgeport to attend a friend's funeral, painting a picture of a man caught in a tragic sequence of events.
The inspector general's report underscores the complexities of police use-of-force cases, balancing the justification of the shooting with critical scrutiny of the post-incident response. As investigations continue, the case highlights ongoing concerns about procedural fairness and medical prioritization in high-stress law enforcement situations.
