Re: 11/2/01 - WTNH/AP: Police arrest suspect in killing that led to police scandal
Police arrest suspect in killing that led to police scandal
(New Haven-WTNH, Nov. 2, 2001 6:00 PM) _ The murder had two police departments butting heads and caused a shake-up of the top brass in New Haven, but now there's been a major breakthrough in the 1996 unsolved death of Philip Cusick.
News Channel 8's Andrea Stassou reports.
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After five years, police have finally made an arrest in the death of Philip Cusick.
Jose Rivera of Bridgeport is charged with murder and is being held on $2 million bond.
It's a major development in a case that caused a scandal at the New Haven Police Department with allegations of a cover-up.
28-year-old Jose Rivera was already serving time for second degree manslaughter in the death of a 13-year-old boy.
Now, Rivera stands accused of murdering 23-year-old Philip Cusick of North Haven.
It is a major breakthrough in a case that led to an alleged cover-up by top New Haven police officers.
Cusick was killed five years ago in what police suspect was a drug deal gone bad.
The arrest warrant for Rivera is currently sealed, but police have said Cusick was killed when Rivera opened fire into a car.
The car's driver dropped Cusick's body off the next day in front of his parents home in North Haven.
That put the North Haven police Department in charge of the case with New Haven police assisting.
But, after a grand jury investigation, New Haven Captain Brian Sullivan was charged with hindering prosecution by allegedly making false statements and withholding information.
According to testimony, Sullivan never gave North Haven detectives a taped interview with a key witness that implicated Rivera.
Sullivan pleaded innocent to the charges and has since retired from the force. Other New Haven officers were reprimanded for mishandling the case.
Despite the scandal, New Haven's Chief Melvin Wearing praised the cooperation between the two departments, "Today's arrest represents a significant development in the resolution of this matter. We sincerely hope that it ultimately leads to both justice and closure for the Cusick family."
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