Fairfield Police video shows Bridgeport councilman, Alfredo Castillo, ‘combative’ traffic stop

A Bridgeport city councilmember – already charged with ballot fraud and witness tampering – is now answering another run-in with the law.

Newly released body camera video shows Alfredo Castillo refusing to hand over his license during a “combative” traffic stop in Fairfield last year.

“I DON’T HAVE TO GIVE YOU MY LICENSE”

According to a May 2023 police report, Castillo was driving 20 miles over the speed limit on Congress Street in Fairfield. But when an officer pulled the Bridgeport councilman over, things got confrontational.

Officer: “I’m going to need your license.”

Castillo: “Nah, I don't have -- I don't have to give you my license. I want to see why you’re pulling me over.”

Officer: “Sir, sir.”

Body camera footage shows Castillo repeatedly refusing to hand over his license. In the police report, Officer Felix Gonzalez wrote that Castillo was “combative and argumentative” and “remained disrespectful for the entirety of the stop.”

Castillo: "You know who I am? I'm an elected official, and I know my rights.”

Officer: "OK.”

Castillo: “I’m a councilman.”

Officer: “That's fine. That's fine.”

Castillo: “But I’m not speeding.”

Officer: “But that doesn't give you the right to not identify yourself on a traffic stop.”

In the footage, Castillo continues arguing with Gonzalez for several minutes. Eventually, a second officer arrives, and convinces the councilman to hand over his license.

Castillo received a citation for Traveling Unreasonably Fast. This week, he settled the case with a $150 fine. Castillo did not respond to a request for comment Friday. The contentious traffic stop ends with a warning from the police officer.

“If you are actually an elected official, you should be embarrassed of yourself, sir,” he told Castillo. “That was no way to act, man. That’s unbelievable.”

Last month, Castillo was charged, along with three campaign workers, with ballot fraud and witness tampering in the 2019 race for Bridgeport mayor.

According to an arrest warrant, Castillo filled out another voter’s absentee ballot. That voter testified during a 2019 civil trial.

“He just asked me to sign my name and then he would take care of it – handle it from there,” testified voter Kadeem Graham. “And that was the last I saw of the ballot."

Castillo has pleaded not guilty. After his initial court appearance, Castillo’s lawyer insisted the incident never happened.

“It’s a whole political injustice,” said attorney Sam Kretzmer. “This is what this whole case is about, and we’re going to fight this and deal with this in court.”

Even though he is a Bridgeport council member, Castillo’s arrest warrant – and the Fairfield traffic citation – list an address in Shelton. Castillo has insisted that he lives in Bridgeport.

These aren’t Castillo’s first run-ins with authorities. In January, the councilman pleaded guilty to creating a public disturbance, related to a confrontation outside an ice skating rink.