A Seymour man who states that he is a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has filed a state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) complaint against the Newtown Police Department, claiming that police have failed to address his various complaints, thus exhibiting an ongoing pattern of harassment.

George T. Tarby, III, in his February 5 CHRO complaint, states that the harassment involves police failing to address his complaints, arresting him, having him hospitalized without his consent, and ignoring his state Freedom of Information requests. Mr Tarby was born in 1968, which would make him age 50 or 51.

Police Chief James Viadero had no comment on Mr Tarby’s CHRO complaint. “We don’t comment on legal cases that we are currently engaged in. Our legal counsel is representing the police department. I will comment that I’m confident there will be a favorable decision pertaining to the police department’s actions.”

Town Attorney David Grogins, of the law firm Cohen & Wolf PC, said, “We really have no comment at this point.”

The stated mission of the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is to eliminate discrimination through civil and human rights law enforcement and to establish equal opportunity and justice for all persons within the state through advocacy and education.

Mr Tarby is the subject of a pending case in Connecticut Superior Court in Danbury. On March 27, 2018, Newtown police charged him with second-degree breach of peace and with creating a public disturbance.

In a press release that followed that incident, police said that Mr Tarby had allegedly made threatening statements to a person with whom he had a telephone conversation

Mr Tarby’s next scheduled pre-trial court appearance is May 10. The matter has been on the court docket 13 times. Mr Tarby is represented by a public defender.

Through his CHRO complaint, Mr Tarby seeks to have the CHRO investigate his complaint, secure for him his rights under applicable law, and provide any remedy to which he may be entitled.

In his complaint, Mr Tarby makes many claims. He claims he has permission to use a residential property at 280 Berkshire Road. However, he adds that police on July 12, 2018, gave him a letter from the property’s owner stating that he did not have permission to use the property and that his attempts to use the property should be considered trespassing.

Also, Mr Tarby claims he was not permitted to file a complaint against police.

Additionally, Mr Tarby said he received another letter from the owner of 282 Berkshire Road on July 14, 2018, claiming that he does not have permission to use that property, which abuts 280 Berkshire Road.

“These letters resulted in my losing access to my place of residence. I have subsequently become homeless. I have also not been permitted to retrieve my personal items,” he states in the CHRO complaint.

Mr Tarby claims that the police sought to have the two property owners write the letters to harass him and discriminate against him.

He charges that Newtown police and police from other towns harass him by following him.

“I was discriminated against and harassed, based on my mental disability — post-traumatic stress disorder,” Mr Tarby states in his CHRO complaint.

CHRO complaints are subject to a formal response from the party named in the complaint, plus a formal review process and possible action.