BRIDGEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT OPEN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AS A RESULT OF MEDICAL EXAMINER’S REPORT
On December 12, 2021, the Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center (EOC) received a call for service regarding an untimely death (No. 21000105864). Upon police arrival, it was found that Ms. Lauren Smith-Fields (DOB 01/23/98) passed away unexpectedly. As is protocol, the Bridgeport Police Department (BPD) Detective Bureau (D.B.) took charge of the untimely death investigation under D.B. case No. 21-105864.
On January 24, 2022, the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) determined the cause and manner of death of Lauren Smith-Fields. The manner of death has been ruled an accident. Her cause of death is an overdose of Fentanyl combined with prescription medication and alcohol. The OCME has notified the next of kin.
Fentanyl is a strong narcotic associated with an epidemic of opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States. The City of Bridgeport is not immune to this epidemic. As a result of the OCME’s report, the Bridgeport Police Narcotics and Vice Division have opened a criminal investigation under N.V. Case No. 22N-015. They will be assisted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Detective Bureau’s investigation will remain open as intelligence transitions to the Narcotics and Vice Division.
The Bridgeport Police Department's thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family and friends of Ms. Lauren Smith-Fields.
We encourage anyone with information regarding the narcotics investigation to contact Narcotics and Vice Lieutenant Charles Johnson at (203) 449-2195 or the Bridgeport Police TIPS Line at (203) 576-TIPS.
PREPARED BY:
CAPTAIN KEVIN GILLERAN
DETECTIVE BUREAU, BRIDGEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT
STATEMENT FROM CHIEF OF POLICE, REBECA GARCIA
“The Bridgeport Police Department continues to treat the untimely death of Lauren Smith-Fields as an active investigation as we are now refocusing our attention and efforts to the factors that lead to her untimely death. We have engaged several partners to assist with this portion of the investigation. Once again, we offer our sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Lauren Smith-Fields and ask that anyone with information to please contact 203 576-TIPS.”
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