Two arrested in incident that led to police death

NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Officers have arrested two people whose violent domestic dispute sparked an emergency response that resulted in a veteran sergeant's death, police said.

Ricky Williams, 32, and Evelyn Borrero, 38, both of New Haven, were charged Friday with breach of peace and domestic violence in connection with an incident late Tuesday in the city's Fair Haven section, police said.

Sgt. Dario "Scott" Aponte and Officer Diane Gonzalez were rushing to that call when their cruisers collided, killing Aponte and leaving Gonzalez with critical injuries. She remained hospitalized Friday.

Williams and Borrero were being held Saturday on the charges as fellow officers and other mourners were attending Aponte's funeral.

Jessica Mayorga, a spokeswoman for the city of New Haven, said Williams and Borrero were reluctant to speak with officers on the night of the incident, but that arrest warrants were obtained that led to their arrests Friday.

Information was not immediately available Saturday on whether they had attorneys.

Police released a 911 call tape of the domestic dispute on Wednesday as word spread of Aponte's death and officers held vigil with Gonzalez's family at Yale New Haven Hospital.

On the tape, screaming can be heard in the background as the caller begs police to respond.

"The husband is hitting the mom. The kids are crying. He's hitting her," the caller said.

Later, the witness said, "Are they coming? He's going to kill her. ... He's dangerous. Bring the cops, please. There's kids."

Police said the woman in the incident, later identified as Borrero, was not seriously injured.

State police are investigating the collision. Police have said Aponte and Gonzalez both had activated the emergency lights and sirens on their cruisers before the crash.

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Information from: New Haven Register, http://www.nhregister.com