Officer Shot During Arrest of Southington Man Outside Plainville Theater

A Plainville police officer was shot while trying to take a Southington man into custody on child porn possession charges early Saturday outside of an AMC Loews Plainville movie theater.

Southington and Plainville officers worked collaboratively throughout Friday evening and early Saturday morning to locate Eric Gothberg, of Southington, who the Southington Police Department was investigating for a charge of third-degree possession of child pornography, Lt. J. Paul Vance, spokesperson for the state police, said in a press release. The bond for Gothberg, 45, 1309 East St., was set at $500,000.

At around 2:16 a.m., after the departments learned that Gothberg might be at the theater, two Plainville officers approached him to serve a warrant, Vance said in the press release. He had just exited the theater and was heading toward a car.

Police attempted to take Gothberg into custody, but he did not follow the officers' instructions and continued to enter the car, Vance said.

When the suspect moved suddenly, the officers fired shots, just as two back up officers arrived on scene, according to the press release. 

As a result of the shooting, Gothberg was wounded in the foot and one Plainville officer was shot in the arm, Vance said. Another Plainville officer was injured by glass fragments. None of the injuries were life threatening.

The Hartford Courant reported that Gothberg was unarmed, and no details have been released about who fired the shot that injured the Plainville officer.

Gothberg was taken to Hartford Hospital to be treated and both officers were transported to St. Francis Hospital.

The State Police Central District Major Crime Squad is investigating the incident at the request of Plainville Police Chief Matthew Catania and the New Britain State's Attorney's Office.

The State Police ask that anyone who may have observed the incident at the Loews Theater, 220 New Britain Ave., contact State Police Troop H in Hartford at 800-968-0664 or 860-534-1000. Witnesses can also contact the Plainville Police Department at 860-747-1616 with any details.