West Hartford, Connecticut — On August 8, 2023 at approximately 5:00 p.m., West Hartford police were attempting to stop a stolen Hyundai Elantra that was traveling east on New Britain Avenue. At the intersection of New Britain Avenue and South Street, the Hyundai struck a silver BMW and then a blue Honda Pilot. After the collision with the Honda Pilot, the Hyundai became disabled. Two occupants of the vehicle, Lyle Solsbury, and Mike Alexander-Garcia, exited the vehicle. Officers quickly apprehended Solsbury. Alexander-Garcia fled east on New Britain Avenue. He unsuccessfully attempted to carjack two vehicles as he made his way to Town Fair Tire at 980 New Britain Avenue. He entered a Toyota RAV4 in one of the garage service bays.
Moments later, West Hartford K-9 Officer Andrew Teeter entered the garage bay. In an effort to apprehend Alexander-Garcia, Officer Teeter deployed the K-9 into the Toyota and then entered the passenger side of the vehicle. Despite the K-9 and Officer Teeter being in the vehicle struggling with Alexander-Garcia, he backed out of the garage and drove out of the Town Fair Tire parking lot striking two vehicles. One of those vehicles was the K-9 police vehicle. As Alexander-Garcia continued to drive, Officer Teeter discharged his weapon multiple times striking Alexander-Garcia in the torso. The Toyota crashed into a utility pole across the street from Town Fair Tire near the intersection of New Britain Avenue and Shield Street. Alexander-Garcia was taken to Hartford Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 5:53 p.m. Officer Teeter sustained a broken rib and multiple head lacerations. There was no apparent injury to the K-9.
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