The Connecticut Post wrote:Man dies in police custody; Officers in Milford twice used Taser on 24-year-old FRANK JULIANO
fjuliano@ctpost.comConnecticut Post OnlineArticle Launched: 10/21/2006 04:48:37 AM EDT
MILFORD — A 24-year-old man died in police custody Thursday night, five hours after officers twice used an electric stun gun on him as he allegedly swallowed a small amount of marijuana.
A spokeswoman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Friday the cause and manner of Nicholas Brown's death have not been determined, and toxicology results are pending.
Officials said Brown, whose last known address was on East Broadway in Stratford, was found sweating profusely and appeared ill during a routine cellblock check at about 9:15 p.m. The man had what appeared to be a seizure after being placed in an ambulance, and went into cardiac arrest en route to Milford Hospital, said Officer Vaughan Dumas, the Police Department spokesman.
Paramedics were unable to revive Brown and he was pronounced dead at 10:21 p.m. in the hospital's emergency department, Dumas said.
Videotapes of the cellblock and booking areas of the city Police Department during the time Brown was in custody have been obtained, City Attorney Marilyn Lipton said.
The incident is the first death in Milford police custody in at least 30 years, officials said. Dumas said he was aware of only one other death — a prisoner who hanged himself in the cellblock — when the police station was downtown. The department moved to the Boston Post Road in the 1970s.
Brown had recently been evicted from the Red Roof Inn on Rowe Avenue, Dumas said. An employee called police at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday to complain the young man was sleeping in his car in the hotel's parking lot and had a pit bull with him.
Officers talked to Brown through the partially opened car window, and asked him to step out and leave the dog inside, Dumas said.
Instead, Brown emerged with the dog on a leash and began to walk away, the spokesman said. The suspect did not immediately comply with officers' request to stop and began to run, Dumas said.
He was "Tasered," or jolted with a 5-second burst of electricity from the nonlethal weapon, the police spokesman said. Brown sat up and pulled the metal probes from the weapon off his skin, Dumas said. When the suspect put his hands into his pockets and refused to remove them, the officers believed that he had a weapon, he said.
They used the Taser again, this time making direct contact with Brown's body, the police spokesman said. Dumas did not know how many volts of electricity the weapon, called an X-26 Air Taser, can deliver. City police own five or six of the devices, and officers who are trained may sign them out to use during their shift, he said.
Before he was taken into custody, Brown put something from his pocket into his mouth, the police spokesman said. He told officers on the scene and later the paramedics that he had ingested two "roaches," or burnt marijuana cigarettes, Dumas said.
The spokesman would not identify the officers who made the arrest or the one who made the required physical checks of prisoners in the cellblock every 15 minutes, citing an ongoing internal investigation.
No action has been taken against any Police Department employee in connection with the incident. "Our preliminary investigation indicates that all department procedures were followed," Dumas said. State's Attorney Kevin Lawlor said the city police would handle the investigation themselves.
Dumas said Brown had several previous addresses, in Stratford, Milford, West Haven and Bridgeport, and that the suspect had a prior arrest record here on drug charges.
Brown had been charged with interfering with police and tampering with evidence in the latest incident and was being held on a $5,000 bond.
The pit bull was taken to the city's animal-control shelter.
<hr class=postrule>
<span class=postbold><big>Share Your Comments</big></span>
You might find
this interesting.
And
this.
I began recording these stories because stories of taser deaths were coming up in my daily googles of 'marijuana medical'.
Besides tasers, all these deaths were homeless marijuana users; probably for medical reasons (whether they were consciously self-medicating or not).
These people died, essentially, for smoking a joint.
When will the insanity end?
<small>J. Craig Canada | Email |
Homepage | 10.22.06 - 3:18 pm | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
I can tell you that that Issue (Fairfield Man kill Child Molester) has not ended. That wasn't an issue for the Newspaper. I would have handled it differently myself, But the man in that case will have all the help he needs and more. Several National Organisations are behind him and the Independant Investigations have only began to gain momentum in Clearing this Man's name. As for this Young Man who didn't really pose any danger to anyone, most especially the Police Officer who Murdered him, has many people around the Country on his side, as would anyone whose Civil Rights have been Violated, Including you and Your Family members.
<small>Martin Gibson | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:49 am | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
There were just about the same amount of comments here the day after the Fairfield lawyer killed his neighbor because of sexual child abuse to his 2 year old daughter. Was everyone screaming that this man was a hero. Now that the investigation has cleared the dead man everyone is silent.
Let the investigation go forth, the video tapes should be most revealing as well as the toxicology report. If the officer is guilty then he should get the max, but not before the investigation is complete.
CT Post: Would you post the 'f' word in the paper? I don't think so, those that do that here should have their remarks immediately removed. Let's keep this place clean!
<small>videophotog | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 10:42 pm | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
Well I've sent over 200 e-mails today, to points all over the Country and the World. This Incident will not pass without repercussions to those responsible for the Death of this Young Man. All that I can see is that he was down on his Luck, and Rudely Awakened. No matter what the "Probable Cause", this Poor Kid did not need to Die. Those whom I have contacted about this Travesty of American Justice and everything that is Should Stand for are ones that will reach out to everyone they know. They include several Senators, 2 Former Presidents, Many People in the Entertainment Business and other interested Parties. The State Attorney from New Haven County has made a Grave error in taking the Word of the Milford Police about the Torture of an Individual in their Custody. If anyone Doubts that Tasering an Individual with a Medical Condition is Torture, They should try getting Tasered some time. These "Draconian" devices have NEVER been proven safe. Cowards like the Milford Officer who Murdered this Kid, and the Chief of Milford Police Must be held Accountable. Henry Lee will not Cover-Up anything for Anybody, Lets Hope Not. If anybody can pass this News to the Governor's Office or Mayor DeStefano's Office, I ask you to do so. I for one Will make a STAND, and I urge Everyone to do likewise.
<small>Kurt Justinius | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 9:00 pm | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
N fuck you to the person that sed keep up the good work..what asshole says that.
<small>PIGS | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:44 pm | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
thats fucking bullshit with those fucking milford cops. they took there sweet ass time to bring him to the hospital. you guys are fucking pricks..he was my cousin..he would still be here if your stupidity never occured.
Get a real job!
<small>PIGS | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:43 pm | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
It is Easy to do Law Enforcement work without Violating a Citzen's Civil Rights, the Guy didn't respond right away(according to the Report). But Tazers have Never been Proven safe. Several Incidents this week in the Connecticut Post about "Dangerous Situations" that were resolved without using Tazers or anything else but Professional Police Tactics. I would be the first to agree with what Any Officer of the Law does in the Course of his or Her job, Any Day. But, when the Constitution of this Country is disregarded and Civil Rights of an Individual are Denied. I will always Make a Stand, even if it were someone who doesn't agree with me. It has ben a Long Time that Milford Police have ben allowed to Get away with Unprofessional Conduct. I could name Several Example that have been Published in the CT. Post, but that is for you to check out if you like. Milford can take a Tazer shot at me anytime they like. But, I won't resist anyone, not that it would matter.
<small>Kurt Justinius | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:40 pm | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
Dont believe the liberal media. Their isn't one documented case of a death due to a taser.
And to the above ..next time you need a cop.don't call.
<small>steve | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 1:32 pm | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
I think they did what they had to do. the police officer did ask the gentleman to step outside his car nicely. There lives are at stake just as will He did not obey & made the decision to flee. If You were in the officer shoe then what decision would you have made about this situation?
their are other people he has to think in that area that have to be protect. It easy to make statement when you are on the otherside.
<small>Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 12:46 pm | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
Shame on The Milford Police ! What Kind of Cowards are they. This past week, other departments have resolved much more Dangerous situations without Violence or much Harm to Anyone. The kid appeared to be down on his luck and that was all. Where did that "dirty little Coward" on the Milford Police Dept. get trained ? There was no reason to Tazer him in the first place. Now there is Blood on Milfords Hands ! Thats Fine, I propose a TOTAL BOYCOTT of Milford by everyone in the Stae. I have a large business that uses the Services of Many of Milfords Businesses, as of this Morning I have severed all relations with those Businesses and have told them why. This Repression Must Stop. Years ago when I worked in Milford, I saw 1st hand, how the Milford Police did Business, Very Heavy Handed for Minor Infractions. Enough is Enough !!, All that Large Investment in Milford will be for Nothing. A Grass Roots effort could be very effective. The Many National Corperations who do Business in Milford will be listed and Boycotted as well. Subway, Forget it, How about a Worldwide BOYCOTT of your Lousey Food and Peaceful Picketting of your franchises. That may do no good, But if anyone is as Outraged at this Violation of another's Civil Rights, Pass along this Story.
<small>Kurt Justinius | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 11:54 am | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
Whoever said keep up the good work to milford police should shut the hell up. Maybe if he was given the care he needed he would still be here. Instead the police took their sweet time getting him to the hospital.. Whoever you are u dont know what your talking about.
<small>Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 11:50 am | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
He most likely died from some ingested drug & not the police. I grew up in NY & know what it means when you say DAMN COPS & after moving & living in Milford for 15 years, Milford Police do not abuse there authority unless they were made to do it. The fact that no one has died in there custody for 30 years says alot for them. Keep up the good work.
<small>Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 11:37 am | # </small>
<hr class=postrule>
ALL I GOTTA SAY IS THESE DAMNCOPS SWEAR THEY'RE ABOVE THE LAWS...DOING WHATEVER TEHY WANT TO CIVILIANS, INCLUDING KILLING THEM. THAT'S EXACLTY WHY I CAN'T STAND THODE BASTARDS
<small>ANONYMOUS | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 10:23 am | # </small>