US Policeman steals $3700.00 from body of dying auto accident victim

 

Aaron Huntsman, a state trooper, was arrested after police said he took a chain and cash from the dead victim of a motorcycle crash in Fairfield .

BRIDGEPORT -- A veteran state trooper denied stealing $3,700 from the mangled body of an Orange man on the Merritt Parkway, even after his superiors learned it was captured on the dashboard video camera of the trooper's car.
Trooper Aaron "AJ" Huntsman argued that he was asking about the "crash" -- not for the "cash" -- from 49-year-old John Scalesse, who was lying unconscious in the back of an ambulance, according to the arrest warrant affidavit released Tuesday.
Huntsman, 43, is charged with two counts of third-degree larceny, interfering with police and tampering with evidence. He is scheduled to be arraigned in state Superior Court in Bridgeport on Dec. 10.
Scalesse was killed Sept. 22 after his motorcycle crashed into a construction truck in the northbound section of exit 44 on the Merritt Parkway in Fairfield.
"The more we think about it, the more upset we get," said Scalesse's father, John Scalesse Sr. "It's just shocking that a police officer with 18 years would so something like this."
The affidavit states that Huntsman, who was the first trooper at the crash scene, walked to where Scalesse lay on the ground, and bent down and picked up Scalesse's gold chain from a pool of blood. Later, Huntsman told Scalesse's grieving father that he didn't see any money on the victim.
Police said a second trooper who was on the crash scene, Mark DiCocco, initially claimed he didn't see Huntsman take the money and was evasive when questioned about the incident.
"He didn't want to say anything against an 18-and-a-half-year veteran who may be having some issues," the affidavit states.
DiCocco later admitted he called Huntsman to warn him of the investigation, the affidavit states. DiCocco was not charged in the incident.
State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance has conceded Huntsman's arrest is a black eye for the department. But, Vance said, after the Scalesse family complained, state police immediately notified State's Attorney John Smriga.
According to the warrant affidavit, EMTs had just loaded Scalesse into the ambulance when one of them found a large wad of cash in Scalesse's pocket; DiCocco refused to take the money because he said Scalesse was still alive, but Huntsman took it, saying, "I'll take it, I'll take it as evidence."
State police later found the cash secured with a rubber band and under the front seat of Huntsman's cruiser.
As the ambulance drove off, Fairfield Assistant Fire Chief Scott Bisson told Huntsman he thought Scalesse's injuries looked grave, the affidavit states.
But Bisson said Huntsman replied they didn't look so bad and that he had seen worse.
The next morning, Huntsman was working the front desk at Troop G when he received a call from Scalesse's father asking about the gold chain and cash from the accident scene.
"He stated that he advised the father that he was not aware of these items and that most likely they would have gone with his son to the hospital," the affidavit states.
Huntsman did not report the call to his supervisors. He later claimed he didn't report the call because he didn't know if the father was telling the truth.
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ARREST WARRANT APPLICATION

H, STATE OF CONNECTICUT

C.G.S. 54~2a SUPERIOR COURT

Pr. Bk. Sec. 38~t. 36-2, 36~3 

Name (Last, First, Middle Residence {Town} of accused Court to be held at (Town) Geographicaf
Huntsman, Aaron - Middletown Bridgeport Area number

Affidavit - Continued .

that while at the scene they moved tl1e operator of the into the back of the AMR ambulance. While standing
outside to the rear of the ambulance, he observed Firefighter Mike Schumann locate a driver's license, pistol permit and a
significant amount of cashed rolled up and inside the pants pocket of John Scalesse. Bisson reported that 2 Troopers came
to the ambulance inquiring about possible identification for the victim. Bisson stated at that time both Troopers were
advised of the large sum of money. One Trooper reportedly took the identification but refused' to take the money telling
them to leave the money in the pocket of the operator. This Trooper then walked away. Bisson described this Trooper as
young, skinny, dark haired. A second Trooper, described as young, skinny, with blonde spiked hair, in a high and tight
style and possibly having a shoulder stripe on his uniform, stated that he would take care of the money. At this time, this
Trooper was reportedly given the unknown amount of cash by a member of the rescue personnel, and walked away.

11. That, On 10-14-12, Tpr. DiCocco, who is assigned to Troop -G, but was temporarily assigned to the Training Academy
went to Troop to work an overtime shift. Sgt. Etters had not spoken with Tpr. DiCocco in person until this point and he
asked him if he ever observed any cash whileon scene. He replied by saying, did you watch Al's video? (He was referring
to TFC Huntsman). Sgt. Etters stated that he told Tpr. DiCocco that he had not watched it, but asked him again if he
observed TFC Huntsman receive any property. Tpr. DiCocco asked Sgt. Etters to watch the video as he did not want to 
comment on specifics, because he didn't see clearly what TFC Huntsman was given. He stated it may have been a wallet.
He stated that TFC Huntsman and himself were at the rear of the ambulance and that is when TFC Huntsman may have
been given property. Tpr. DiCocco stated that rescue personnel tried to hand him belongings but he refused to take them
because at that time John Scalesse was still alive, and it was not proper protocol to take belongings from living parties.

 12. That at this time Sgt. Etters in the presence of Sgt. Hufcut #159 watched the in car video from TFC Huntsman's
 assigned cruiser. Tpr. DiCocco showed him the exact point on the video when he and TFC Huntsman are speaking with
rescue personnel concerning John Scalesse, and his belongings. This conversation was brief, however, Sgt. Etters stated he
could clearly recognize the distinct voices of TFC. Huntsman, a11d Fairfield Asst.'Fire Chief Scott Bisson. Sgt. Etters then
hears a voice he did not recognize clearly say the word "cash" and not wanting to take the money. Sgt. Etters stated he
could clearly hear TF Huntsman say "I'll take it, I'll take it as evidence. TFC Huntsman was then observed on video
towards his car and enter it. At this point, Sgt. Hufcut asked Tpr. DiCocco why he did not secure the cash reported
by the rescue personnel, and he again stated that he did not believe it was protocol. Tpr. DiCocco expressed concern about
'the situation he was placed in by TF Huntsman. 

 13. That, on 10-19-12 at 0920 hours, Sgt.  Thomas #129 and myself met with Fairfield Asst. Fire Chief Scott Bisson

"at Fire Headquarters located at 600 Jennings Rd. in Fairfield, CT at which time he provided a sworn written statement.
Bisson stated that on 09/21} 12 at approximately 2356 hours, Fairfield Fire Dept. was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident
on the Meritt Parkway in the area of exit 44. He was the first person on scene for Fairfield Fire Dept. and observed a
construction truck on the northbound side and a laying on the ground with the operator laying right next to it.
There was a Trooper already on scene who was a tall, blonde Trooper with a high and tight haircut with spiky hair. He had
either one or two stripes on his sleeve. While at the scene, _Bisson spoke to this Trooper and told him that the operator's
injuries looked grave. The Trooper said to him that they didn't and he's seen worse. When the ambulance arrived, it pulled

just past the in the left lane.

14. That Fire and Ambulance personnel then moved the operator to the inside of the ambulance. In the back of the

This is page 3 of a 1'3 page Affidavit.)

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