UPDATE: Former state representative Victor Cuevas has been arrested and charged with second-degree breach of peace by Waterbury Police. This urgent development comes in connection with a widely circulated video from an incident on August 22, 2023, where Cuevas allegedly confronted local man Efrain Torres and made homophobic remarks.
Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo confirmed that the Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt classified the encounter as a hate incident, although it did not reach the threshold of a criminal violation. Chief Spagnolo stated, “It was evident that probable cause existed for the charges that were levied against him,” following a thorough police investigation.
Cuevas surrendered on a warrant on Tuesday and was released on $20,000 bail. He was reportedly nearing the end of his probation at the time of his arrest, according to his affidavit. Torres, who had been a candidate for the Republican Board of Aldermen, described the incident as a hate crime and expressed that he would comment “in due time.”
Footage from the incident shows Torres walking past the Republican Town Committee’s headquarters when Cuevas approached him, angrily questioning him with expletives. Torres responded calmly, stating, “See you later.”
The incident has drawn significant attention, with Torres claiming that Cuevas has repeatedly stalked him and tarnished his reputation, alongside others in the local Republican Party, including Dawn Maiorano, the chairwoman of the Waterbury RTC.
In a conflicting account, Cuevas claims he was provoked by Torres, who allegedly entered the Republican headquarters brandishing his tax documents and shouting, “I paid my taxes.” Maiorano criticized the circumstances surrounding the arrest, questioning the motives of local authorities and suggesting political bias in the investigation.
“Both of those gentlemen are engaged in politics; however, that does not absolve them from following the law,” stated Mayor Paul Pernerewski, dismissing Maiorano’s comments as “nonsense.”
The situation escalated further as Officer Adrian Sanchez, who reported the incident and won his election in November, faced scrutiny regarding his attendance during a lengthy Board of Aldermen meeting. Although he was late for work, Chief Spagnolo clarified that Sanchez is not currently under investigation.
As the community absorbs this incident, questions remain about the implications of political affiliations on law enforcement actions in Waterbury. The police department continues to stand by their investigation, emphasizing transparency and adherence to legal standards.
This case is developing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
