Milford officers violated policy on night of man's death, report states

Milford police released their internal affairs report and a surveillance tape Friday in the case of a man who died while in police custody. Milford Police Chief Keith Mello says four officers violated

News 12 Staff

Dec 2, 2006, 1:37 AM

Updated 6,584 days ago

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Milford police released their internal affairs report and a surveillance tape Friday in the case of a man who died while in police custody. Milford Police Chief Keith Mello says four officers violated policy on the night of October 19 when they arrested 24-year-old Nicholas Brown. Brown was Tasered during the arrest, in which officers saw him swallow a bag containing drugs. The surveillance tape shows Brown acting strangely in his cell at police headquarters, often getting on and off the bed and shaking. The officers then waited 44 minutes before calling EMS. Brown later had a seizure on the way to the hospital and died. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was a cocaine overdose. Officers say they repeatedly asked Brown what he had swallowed but say he never told them it was cocaine. The internal affairs report describes Brown as being alert while speaking with medical personnel about his condition before being brought to the hospital. Mello says four officers were given one-day suspensions for their roles in the incident. Two dispatchers have also been fired for making what the chief described as insensitive and inappropriate comments. A lawyer for Brown's family has filed preliminary paperwork in anticipation of a wrongful death suit.