Additional details surrounding the arrest of Andrew Nielsen, the South Windsor man and East Hartford police officer facing a federal charge of receiving child pornography, are emerging.
According to an affidavit by U.S. Postal Inspector Michael Connelly, between November 2010 and April 2011, Nielsen allegedly purchased from an international company 49 DVDs - at least some of which depicting nude prepubescent boys in various scenes - over the course of 15 separate orders. The affidavit, obtained by South Windsor Patch, was attached to the criminal complaint filed in federal court.
Nielsen, according to the affidavit, purchased the DVDs for $1,173.55 from the company’s website.
Nielsen, who had the videos shipped to his home at 58 Pleasant Valley Road, came to the attention of law enforcement when the international company’s shipping facility located in North Tonawanda, N.Y. was searched by authorities in May 2011, according to the affidavit. Law enforcement officials seized “hundreds of DVD movies, photo DVDs, computers, and business records, including customer shipping labels and customer order histories.”
After an investigation revealed that Nielsen had received DVDs from the company, federal law enforcement officials executed a search and seizure warrant of Nielsen’s home on Nov. 1.
Computers were seized from Nielsen's home as well, according to the affidavit.
During the execution of the warrant, Nielsen agreed to be interviewed, Connelly said in the affidavit.
In the interview, Nielsen admitted ordering the DVDs and admitted “that he has had a sexual curiosity in boys ages 12 to 18 since he was about 20 years old,” Connelly said in the affidavit.
Nielsen has been an officer with the East Hartford police department for 24 years, according to Chief of Police Mark Sirois. He is currently assigned to the field operations bureau of the patrol division.
Nielsen has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation by the East Hartford police department’s internal affairs unit, according to Sirois.
Sirois noted that Nielsen’s alleged conduct took place while off duty.
“This is not indicative of the hard work of the men and women of the East Hartford police department,” said Sirois, noting that Nielsen is innocent until proven guilty.
