Jon Lender as James Joyce. Nappier Story Stuffed With Subtext, Cries for More.

The story of State Treasurer Denise Nappier’s misadventure last Thursday night in Hartford’s North End neighborhood has readers of the Hartford Courant in a state of wonderment, awaiting a clarifying chapter.

One law enforcement official familiar with Hartford neighborhoods tells me a stop for a registration check at night is unusual. Officers on patrol are usually busy with more significant duties. They spend a lot of time, for example, chasing the origins of gunshots.  Last Thursday night was especially active for Hartford police, at least two police task forces were on the streets rounding up suspects.

Nappier, who served as Hartford’s treasurer before winning her state job in 1998, tells Lender that she was stopped in the parking lot of a Barbour Street housing project after dropping off a friend with whom she had dinner.  Police stopped her as she attempted to drive out of the lot.  There was some confusion over the registration and license plate on the car.  The car was impounded by Hartford police.

That’s strange enough.  The bizarre part was just beginning. Nappier says she could not call her because her cellphone battery was out of power. She was reluctant to call anyone because most of her friends are in government and she didn’t want to involve them in the incident.  So she walked.  The story goes further astray here. Nappier says she knows the neighborhood well and has friends in it.  Presumably she could have found one to help.  Also, she’d just dropped off a friend in the building served by the parking lot.  Wouldn’t that friend have offered at least a phone and a place to stay until someone came to assist Nappier, who oversees billions of dollars in state pension funds?

So she walked 3 miles to her West End home, beginning her journey in what can often be a dangerous neighborhood. By Friday morning, Nappier was no longer to reluctant to involve her friends in government.  She spoke with Attorney General George Jepsen.  Hartford State’s Attorney Gail Hardy, no fan of Hartford Chief Darryl Roberts, made a rare intervention in a motor vehicle registration case and determined that there was no violation.

Roberts began an investigation into the matter last Friday. His office will have no comment until his investigation is completed.  The female officer on the scene has been reassigned while the investigation is underway.

Hartford’s not Bloomsbury, but we need to know more about this strange odyssey.