A federal criminal grand jury will begin hearing testimony Tuesday about longstanding allegations that some East Haven police officers have repeatedly harassed and assaulted Latinos in town.

At least 24 active town police officers have been subpoenaed to appear, according to a source familiar with the proceedings, which will take place in Bridgeport. It is unclear if those officers are targets of the investigation or witnesses who will be asked about the conduct of others. But in a court filing for a related matter, a lawyer for the town and police department said the apparent primary target of the investigation is East Haven Officer Dennis Spaulding.

Spaulding was one of two officers involved in the arrest last year of the Rev. James Manship, a Catholic priest who was videotaping what he said was harassment by officers. Spaulding also has been accused of beating and threatening suspects, taunting Latino residents and visitors, and trying to drive away Latino-owned businesses.

The criminal probe grew out of a civil complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice last March by Manship's church, St. Rose of Lima in New Haven, many of whose parishioners live or work in East Haven.