Litchfield’s police chief has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a subordinate. Litchfield Police Chief Benjamin Sargeant, 43, of Hudson, was charged with official oppression, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,200. Attorney General John Formella said Sargeant is accused of knowingly “committing an unlawful act that allegedly was an act by his office with the intent to benefit himself or another or harm another by sexually harassing a subordinate in the breach of duty.In a police affidavit, an attorney general’s office investigator said Sargent was accused of making a series of inappropriate phone and text communications with a Litchfield Police Department employee in 2021 Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2022. According to the affidavit, Sargent admitted to sharing with the officer that his wife was leaving him because of drinking, but he denied that his comments had any romantic connotations. The calls and text messages were made some hours after Sargent was allegedly seen driving around drunk with a handgun mouth, according to the affidavit. Litchfield police went to Sargent’s home based on a report from a suicide hotline and found him possibly under the influence of alcohol, according to the affidavit. Sargent later said he called Alcoholics Anonymous but denied being suicidal or driving with a gun in his mouth, according to the affidavit. Sargent was released on personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 12 in Merrimack. An investigation into Sargent began in June, but the attorney general did not provide any details about the nature of the investigation at the time. Sargent first went on leave in January, and the town Board of Selectmen extended that leave in June. Our investigation is now complete. So the only thing left for us would be a lawsuit,” Fincham said. Litchfield’s city administrator told New 9 Thursday that the city had no comment on Sargent’s arrest, and the police department said no one was available to discuss the matter.
Litchfield’s police chief has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a subordinate.
Litchfield Police Chief Benjamin Sargeant, 43, of Hudson, was charged with official oppression, a Class B misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $1,200.
Attorney General John Formella said in a written statement that Sargent is accused of knowingly “committing an unlawful act purporting to be an act of his office with intent to benefit himself or another or harm another by sexually harassing a subordinate.” a violation of official policy.”
In a police affidavit, an attorney general’s office investigator said Sargent was accused of making a series of inappropriate phone and text communications with a Litchfield Police Department employee on Dec. 31, 2021, and Jan. 1, 2022. .
According to the affidavit, Sargent admitted to sharing with the officer that his wife was leaving him because of his drinking, but he denied that his comments had any romantic connotations.
The calls and texts came hours after Sargent was allegedly seen driving around drunk with a gun in his mouth, according to the affidavit. Litchfield police went to Sargent’s home on a report from a suicide hotline and found him possibly under the influence of alcohol, the affidavit said.
“He did the act with intent to know what he was doing,” Assistant Attorney General Joe Fincham said.
Sargent later said he called Alcoholics Anonymous but denied being suicidal or driving with a gun in his mouth, the affidavit said.
Sargent was released on personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 12 in Merrimack.
A formal criminal investigation was opened against Sargent in June, but the attorney general’s office did not provide any details about the nature of the investigation at the time.
Sargent first went on leave in January, and the town Board of Selectmen extended that leave in June.
“Our investigation is now complete. So the only thing left for us to do would be a trial,” Fincham said.
Litchfield’s city administrator told News 9 Thursday that the city had no comment on Sargent’s arrest, and the police department said no one was available to discuss the matter.
