Detective Investigating Woman's Death Suspended: Report

Bridgeport CT

31 January, 2022

8:59 AM

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BRIDGEPORT, CT — A detective involved in the death investigation of Lauren Smith-Fields has been suspended pending the results of an internal probe, NBC CT reported. Smith-Fields, 23, died unexpectedly Dec, 12. Questions about how the police have come up as the woman's family said they were outraged at how the case was handled. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said in a video that two detectives are facing disciplinary action due to their "lack of sensitivity to the public and their failure to follow police procedure in the handling of these two matters," according to NBC CT. The second detective was investigating the death of Brenda Lee-Rawls, WTNH News-8 reported. Ganim said there will be a "full and fair investigation" into how police handled the woman's death. Smith-Fields's family held a rally earlier this month. The family plans to sue the city and the police department, claiming that police did not follow crime scene procedure and mishandled the investigation, ABC News reported. Her parents said they had been attempting to get in touch with their daughter and only found out about her death two days later through a note her landlord left on her front door, WTNH News -8 reported. The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced Monday that the cause of death was due to "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine and alcohol," ABC News reported. Her death was ruled as accidental. The man who called 911 Dec. 12 told police that he met Smith-Fields on a dating app three days prior. He told police he had been drinking with Smith-Fields the night before her death. See related: Cause Of Death Announced In Bridgeport Woman's Death: Reports