Wethersfield Council Threatened Over 'Thin Blue Line' Vote: Reports

WETHERSFIELD, CT — In the wake of a vote by the Wethersfield town council that rejected a request to fly a "thin blue line" flag for a beloved state trooper who was killed in the line of duty May 30, some members who voted no are receiving hateful and threatening messages, according to multiple reports.

Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, 34, was struck by a motorist in a pickup truck while he was conducting a seatbelt enforcement check on Interstate 84 in Southington, where he was born, raised, and lived.

A councilman's request that the "thin blue line" flag — which represents police as the line between law and order and chaos in society but popularly used by the supporters of the "Blue Lives Matter" movement — be raised while Pelletier was laid to rest last week was turned down in a 5 to 3 vote, WFSB reported.

Since the decision, voters have 'received threats by email, text, and phone,' many of which are 'disturbing and vulgar' and came from out of state, Wethersfield's town manager Fred Presley told WFSB and NBC Connecticut.

The messages that threatened physical harm or death to council members and their families are being investigated by police, NBC Connecticut reported.

According to WTNH, council member Rich Bailey said that in his home, the flag simply "means police, and they protect us, and they are our first line of defense."

Others dispute that perspective, with another member pointing out that the flag "represents racism and antagonism to many" and that 'if it means something to you, you should fly it at your own house,' the outlet reported.

Following the crash, the driver — Alex Oyola-Sanchez, 44, of Hartford — fled the scene and was later caught. Police said he side-swept Pelletier's parked police cruiser and then struck Pelletier himself.

He is now facing charges including operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol and vehicular manslaughter.

Oyuola-Sanchez is being held on $1.5 million bond after an initial $5 million bond and appeared in New Britain Superior Court last week.