Former State Troopers Sentenced In Brutal Beating Of Victim

WETHERSFIELD, CT — Former state police troopers Rupert Laird, 33, of Manchester and Xavier Cruz, 31, of Wethersfield will each serve prison time after they pleaded guilty and were convicted in connection with a brutal assault that took place in a Wethersfield basement.

Laird was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of kidnapping, assault and cruelty to persons. Cruz was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended after serving two years after he was convicted of unlawful restraint, assault and cruelty to persons. Cruz will also have to serve five years of probation.

The victim touched Laird's girlfriend's buttocks during a party in February 2017. The victim was later tied up in Cruz's Wethersfield basement while Laird assaulted and tortured him for several hours, according to the Hartford Courant. Cruz watched over the beating.

Both Laird and Cruz were fired later that year.

“The Wethersfield Police Department did a thorough and professional investigation of this matter and their hard work led to these convictions," said New Britain State's Attorney Brian Preleski. "At the time of the incident both defendants were sworn law enforcement officers. They have since lost their positions. Today they’ve been brought to justice for the very serious crimes they committed.”