A still from the body-camera footage of Waterbury police Detective Ronald Sackett, who was shot by a carjacking suspect, Arian Perez-Feliciano, on Feb. 13, 2025. An investigation deemed that Sackett was justified in firing back at him.

By Josh Lanier From Daily Voice

A Connecticut police detective was justified when he returned fire at a man who shot him in the thigh during a shootout earlier this year, according to the state Office of the Inspector General.

Waterbury Detective Ronald Sackett had been investigating two attempted armed carjackings after someone called 911 on February 13 to report armed men trying to break into cars on America Street, the report said. 

When they arrived, the men ran. Sackett caught up to one suspect, later identified as  Arian Perez-Feliciano, who turned and fired multiple shots at the detective with a handgun fitted with a blue laser sight, the report released Wednesday, Nov. 26, said. 

One bullet hit Sackett in the leg. Sackett returned fire. He fell to the ground but fired two shots that missed Perez-Feliciano, the report continues. 

Perez-Feliciano then ran away again, but officers were close by and caught up with him in the home's front yard. They found a Springfield Armory Model 509 9mm handgun near his leg in the snow, the report said. 

Officers rushed to help Sackett and used a tourniquet on his wounded thigh. Responders then rushed him to Waterbury Hospital for treatment. Police said in August that he was still out of work but recovering.

Perez-Feliciano faces federal and state charges that could bring as much as life in prison, police have said. 

Click here to read the Office of Inspector General report.