Sostre had Assault on Officer Charges Dropped IN '98
(East Hartford-WTNH) _ The man accused of killing East Hartford police officer Brian Aselton is no stranger to trouble. A look into 23 year old Noel "Alex" Sostre's past shows a lengthy criminal history. A list of prior arrests shows Sostre was charged this summer with assaulting a Hartford police officer - charges that were eventually dropped in a plea deal.
News Channel 8's Christina Hager reports.

Sostre has quite a reputation with police in Hartford. When the murder of Brian Aselton happened, he was out on probation on an assault charge. His rap sheet is extensive, including:

• 1991: 2 Counts Resisting Arrest
• 1992: Larceny
  Tampering with Motor Vehicle
  Resisting Arrest
• 1998: Assault
  Escape from Custody
  Resisting Arrest
  Disorderly Conduct
  Criminal Mischief

Woman: "Hartford has an open policy of letting any citizen ride along with them."

So she rode along with a Hartford Police officer last July 3rd. The officer pulled Sostre over for driving an un-registered car, and she saw Sostre assault two officers.

Woman: "And he pushed the officer I was riding with away. Pushed the female officer - she fell down."
Christina: "You're sitting in the car watching this - Were you frightened?"
Woman: "Absolutely. I didn't know what was going to happen."

It's all laid out in a police report, but it's not on Sostre's record. Prosecutors dropped the charges in a plea bargain.

Gary Waterhouse, Connecticut Council of Police: "We often tell new police officers Don't be concerned after the arrest because you won't be able to sleep at night."

"People not being prosecuted for assaulting police officers -- I think we're going to open some lines of communications, perhaps with Chief State's Attorney John Bailey's office, to see what we can do about that."

Bailey says he has no control over what charges are prosecuted. The Hartford State's attorney was not available to talk to us.

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