Brian Cody Waldron
Brian Cody Waldron was 20 when he died in August 2019. His mother and stepfather, Tracey and Tony Morrissey, later founded a foundation against opioid addiction and pushed for state legislation in his name, Brian Cody's Law. After he used heroin, his fiancée and her stepfather took him to New Milford Hospital on the night of August 9, and police then took him to the New Milford police station and placed him in a cell. The family's lawsuit says he told an officer several times that he wanted to jump off a bridge, and that officers did not assess his mental state or take him for an emergency examination. He was released at 4:41 a.m. on August 10 and was found dead of an overdose in a trap house about eight hours later; the town and three police employees named in the suit have not been found liable, and the town declined comment citing pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The family's lawsuit says officers did not assess his mental state or take him for an emergency examination after he told an officer several times he wanted to jump off a bridge, and it contests the account of an accidental overdose after his release; the town declined comment citing pending litigation.
Reported by: his family's lawsuit (filed by mother and stepfather Tracey and Tony Morrissey) (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother and stepfather, Tracey and Tony Morrissey, sued the Town of New Milford and three police employees, alleging negligence, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.