Updated: Nov 27, 2024 / 10:26 PM CST (NewsNation) — A veteran Connecticut police officer has come forward with a detailed account of what he describes as a close encounter with an unidentified aerial phenomenon during what was otherwise a routine midnight shift in April 2022.

In an exclusive interview, Robert Klein, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, told NewsNation's "Banfield" on Wednesday about an incident near a local reservoir in Fairfield County, where he encountered a spherical object approximately the size of a "Mini Cooper," hovering just 30 feet from his patrol car.

"I've seen my fair share of drones and meteors," Klein told NewsNation. "This was something I've never come across before."

Klein said the object emitted an intense, color-changing light that momentarily blinded him and filled his patrol vehicle. The object cycled through colors including red, green, white and orange, appearing to have a "plasma-like" quality.

"There was a really strong light. It lit up the entire cab of my cruiser to the point where I was having a hard time driving because I really couldn't see. I was blinded by it," Klein said.

The officer described the object's movement as "instantaneous," claiming that when he illuminated it with his spotlight, it immediately traveled across the body of water.

"That's when I sort of snapped out of it and took out my camera and started recording and taking pictures," Klein said. "I couldn't see it go from A to B, that's how fast it moved."

"It gave off a low hum, which was very distinct," Klein said.

Ben Hansen, host of the Discovery+ show "UFO Witness" who investigated the case, has reportedly uncovered additional potential sightings in the same area, including a separate incident involving multiple orbs observed at a local community center.

"Our team is going to be going out to Connecticut on the ground," Hansen told NewsNation.

Hansen said there was another prior incident at a community center where a witness reported two or three large orbs darting around in the sky and flying directly over her head.

"We're looking for more witnesses," Hansen said.