Drugs were the cause of death of man in New Britain police custody: report – NBC Connecticut

A man who died in police custody in New Britain in August died of drug poisoning, according to the Office of the Inspector General.

On August 28, police officers responded to a home on Columbia Street shortly after 9:30 a.m. when they received a report of a man with mental health issues. According to the inspector general, they found Marcell Felix on the porch, muttering, yelling, pacing and behaving erratically.

According to the inspector general’s report, a small child was also on the porch crying.

Police took Felix into custody and handcuffed him after he fell off the porch, landed in the bushes and asked for medical attention.

When Felix was transported to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, he stopped breathing, according to the Office of the Inspector General.

When Felix arrived at the hospital, he had no pulse and emergency room staff began CPR, but Felix died at 11:09 a.m.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Feliz died of acute phencyclidine poisoning and his death was ruled an accident, according to the Office of the Inspector General.

According to the National Institutes of Health, phencyclidine is PCP or “angel dust.”

The Office of the Inspector General said his death was not linked to the use of violence or a criminal background.