A judge had ordered Rodney Lee Brown to have no contact with refrain from attacking, assaulting or harming his 3‑month-old daughter only five weeks before her death Thursday.
Now Brown, 26, has been charged with risk of injury to a minor in connection to what police are calling the baby’s “suspicious” death.
Police have not said specifically what role, if any, Brown may have played in the death of his daughter, Alayziah Brown.
The cause of the baby’s death has not been determined yet by the medical examiner’s office. Police said in a statement they are waiting for the results of toxicology reports.
Lt. Andrew Cota, a spokesman for the Ansonia Police Department, said the incident is deemed suspicious until the investigation proves otherwise.
911 Call
Police responded to the an apartment at 104 Jewett St. Thursday at 9:50 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting a medical emergency involving the 3‑month-old. Police said they provided medical assistance to the baby. She was pronounced dead at Griffin Hospital.
Brown was arrested shortly after the incident, according to the arrest log at the police department, and charged with one count of risk of injury to a child, a felony.
Brown appeared in Derby Superior Court Friday afternoon, in front of two packed rows of the child’s family members and friends. Family members declined comment.
Judge Burton Kaplan lowered his bond from $500,000 to $150,000 and scheduled the case to be screened for Part A court in Milford, where more serious crimes are heard.
Prosecutor Paul Gaetano, citing three prior convictions on Brown’s record — and an August domestic dispute between him and the baby’s mother — had argued for a $250,000 bond.
Judge Kaplan continued Brown’s case to Dec. 28. Sept. 28.
Prior Incident
Shelton police arrested Brown on Aug. 1 after a dispute with the baby’s mother at a Canal Street home.
Brown allegedly threw a case of CDs at the woman while she held Alayziah in her arms, Shelton Detective Ben Trabka said.
In that incident, Brown was charged with risk of injury to a child, a felony, and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. He was released on a written promise to appear in court Sept. 17.
Shelton police said they issued a $5,000 bond after the dispute, but, during his initial court appearance, a bond commissioner eliminated it.
In court Friday, authorities said Brown appeared to be intoxicated during both the August incident and Thursday night’s incident.
The mother of the baby had reported an abusive relationship with Brown, Judge Kaplan noted.
Brown, who was born in Florida, had three convictions there, according to the prosecutor.
In 2001, he was convicted of petty larceny. In 2002, he was convicted of a probation violation.
In 2006, he was convicted of smuggling contraband into a Florida prison.
He was released from Florida’s Walton Correctional Institution on May 21, 2008.
Ansonia police aren’t releasing any details about what happened at the Jewett Street home Thursday night.
In a written statement released Friday, police said more charges are possible — but said later in the day it is unknown whether more charges are coming.
A message seeking comment was left with Gaetano, the prosecutor.
The following story was posted at 11 a.m.
UPDATE: Ansonia police just released the following press release in connection to the death of a baby girl at a Jewett Street residence Thursday night:
“On Sept. 11, 2009, Rodney Lee Brown, age 26, of 104 Jewett Street, Ansonia was taken into custody and charged with Risk of Injury to a Minor. He is being held on a $500,000 bond and will be arriagned at Derby Superior Court on Sept. 11, 2009.”
“This arrest was in connection with the death of the 3 month old child. Brown is the father of the child. The incident is still under investigation. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation proceeds.”
“No other information is being released at this time.”
“A follow-up press release containing an update on this incident will be released on Sept. 11, 2009 at approx. 3:00 p.m.”
The following was originally posted at 10:12 a.m.
UPDATE: An Ansonia man has been charged with risk of injury to a child, but police are not saying yet whether it is connected to the death of a baby Thursday night.
According to police records, Rodney Brown, 26, is being held by Ansonia police on a single charge of risk of injury to a minor.
He is scheduled to appear in court today. His bond at the moment is $250,000.
Police listed his Jewett Street address as the same address police responded to Thursday night, just before 10 p.m.
The following story was posted at 8:30 a.m.
The police department is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a baby Thursday night on Jewett Street.
According to police spokesman Lt. Wayne Williams, police received a 911 call just before 10 p.m. reporting a medical emergency involving a three-month old child.
The first officers on the scene provided medical assistance to the baby before the baby was taken to Griffin Hospital, where the child was pronounced dead.
“The Ansonia Police Department’s Detective Bureau, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Major Crimes Squad, is investigating the incident as a ‘suspicious death,’” Williams said in a prepared statement.
Police said they will provide more information at 11 a.m.
