Police Body Camera Footage Captures Chaotic Scene At Bonfire

EAST HAVEN, CT — The family’s adult son died Monday. They were grieving.

But state and local police repeatedly told the large crowd Monday night that this "is not the way to do this" as the father of the man who died, other family members and friends gathered around a large backyard bonfire — with the couch the man died on being burned.

East Haven Police Department Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said the cause of the man's death, whose name was not released by police, is unknown.

An obituary shows that Glenn A. DeGray Jr., 31, "passed away suddenly" that day.

After 911 calls, East Haven firefighters arrived to put out the bonfire on Bradford Avenue around 9 p.m. One caller reported the fire was 7 feet high and people were throwing liquor bottles into the fire.

Police said firefighters were attacked by people with ice balls, snowballs and other objects — while one person threatened a "riot" if firefighters and police did not leave.

"With tensions escalating, the crowd began to throw other items at the Fire Department as well as more items into the large fire,” police said in a statement. As they spoke to Glenn Degray, 56, a large piece of ice, which was thrown from the crowd, struck a police cruiser with several people standing near it.

While speaking with officers, Degray threatened to start a riot if they didn’t leave, police said. The crowd grew "increasingly hostile," leading to Connecticut State Police and police officers from Branford and New Haven being called to the scene.

As officers were trying to control the crowd, Michael Ciarleglio, 33, of Wallingford, “approached officers from behind and ignored police commands to ‘get back,’ ... Ciarleglio lunged at an officer, pushing him out of the way, in an attempt to lunge at another officer who had just arrived."

As Ciarleglio was taken into custody, "the crowd began hopping the fence to advance towards the officers while continuing to throw objects," police said.

An East Haven police officer was struck in the head with a heavy backpack filled with various items, police said. He was not injured. Police said officers were forced to use pepper spray to keep the crowd back.

Degray was charged with inciting a riot and second-degree breach of peace. Ciarleglio was charged with second-degree breach of peace and interfering with an officer. They were released on $2,500 bond.

Following a Patch request, Murgo released officer body camera footage from the scene that covers around 20 minutes.

Caution: Video contains graphic language and violence.

As seen in the footage, DeGray tells police that if they don’t leave, he will start a riot.

“If you guys start something I’ll have half the f------ town here causing a riot,” he says.

Police ask, “What’s going on?”

DeGray tells them his son died and, "We’re just celebrating his death. It’ll end soon. He died today. He’s my son. If you guys start something, I’ll go make phone calls and get half the f------ town here. You want a riot? I’ve done it before. I’ve had riots where they’ve f------ had people in handcuffs.”

Police tell him they received complaints from neighbors.

“Well, you know what? F--- them," he says. "If you really wanna start, I’ll start making phone calls. I’ll have 300 or 400 f------ people here in minutes. Half the town knows me."

“That’s inciting a riot,” police say.

Police say they don’t want a problem and “sorry for your loss but …”

Ongoing yelling and screaming can be heard.

“If you want me to calm it down then leave!” DeGray says.

Then others from the yard and house begin screaming at police and some begin throwing ice at officers. Yelling, screaming and arguing with vulgar language continues and more police arrive.

DeGray’s wife tells police, “I’m sorry. I know things are out of control right now. We just lost our son.”

Police say the fire must be extinguished, and then they’re told the couch the son died on is burning in the fire.

As DeGray’s wife is apologizing to police, commotion and yelling comes from an outside staircase. A man is screaming at police who ask to talk to him.

“What are we gonna talk about?” he says. He then rips what appears to be wood or siding from a banister and wields it, trying to strike an officer. “Put it down!" police yell.

Minutes later, two men speaking with police deny throwing ice balls, a bag or backpack and other objects at police. Police explain that what’s happening at the house, while they “understand people are grieving” a death, is unacceptable and note there’s a risk from the fire.

“It’s more than the neighbors," an officer says. "It’s a huge fire hazard, flames going up by the house.”

Police try to speak to DeGray and steer him away from the crowd, saying he's "getting people all riled up.”

DeGray says he’s given “a lot of money to police” and officers should not "piss me off because I can blackmail the police department.”

As he's arrested, he yells out, “They’re arresting me everybody! On my son’s death ... Because I’m a white guy.”