By Facts News Group Staff
New Haven, Connecticut · Incident Oct. 18, 2025; arrest Oct. 15, 2026 · Connecticut State Police arrest warrant
A New Haven police officer who also teaches use of force is accused of punching a woman twice in the head while her hands were cuffed behind her back, according to a Connecticut State Police arrest warrant. Officer Evan Kelly, 47, a member of the department since 2016, is charged with third-degree assault.
Status at a glance
- Records confirm: Kelly is charged with assault in the third degree. State police brought the case on a complaint from the New Haven State's Attorney's Office (warrant; NBC Connecticut; WTNH).
- Records confirm: He turned himself in Oct. 15, 2026, and was released on a written promise to appear (warrant summary; NBC Connecticut).
- Authorities allege that he struck the handcuffed woman twice in the head.
- Not yet reported: the outcome of his Nov. 3 court date and whether he has entered a plea.
What the warrant says
According to the warrant, the arrest happened at about 1:14 a.m. on Oct. 18, 2025, near Kelly's police cruiser outside Elm City Social in downtown New Haven. Investigators wrote that body camera video shows the woman handcuffed with her hands behind her back when Kelly struck her twice in the head.
Two New Haven police supervisors who reviewed the body camera footage found the force was excessive, the warrant says.
The officer's account and the woman's account
In his own report, Kelly wrote that the woman grabbed his duty belt and the Velcro of his pepper-spray holder. The warrant says the video appears to show her hands near his belt.
The woman, who is not named by Facts News Group, was charged after the 2025 arrest with second-degree breach of peace, second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault, first-degree criminal trespass and interfering with an officer. She has denied resisting, according to NBC Connecticut and the New Haven Register.
Department status
Kelly was placed on administrative leave in January, and the department's internal affairs investigation resumes now that the criminal case has been filed, according to NBC Connecticut and WTNH.
The charge explained
In Connecticut, assault in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor. Kelly has not been convicted, and he is presumed innocent.
Still unknown
- The outcome of Kelly's Nov. 3 appearance in New Haven Superior Court and any plea.
- Whether the charges against the woman remain pending.
- The result of the internal affairs investigation.
Sources
- Connecticut State Police arrest warrant and criminal summary, State v. Evan Kelly
- NBC Connecticut, "New Haven police officer charged with assault, accused of punching handcuffed woman" – nbcconnecticut.com
- New Haven Register / NewsTimes, Nov. 3, 2026 – newstimes.com
- WTNH, "New Haven police officer arrested for alleged excessive force during 2025 arrest" – wtnh.com
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