The state’s Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday there has been no cause of death determined for a woman who died five days after being detained by Derby police.
The 51-year-old Derby woman died at Griffin Hospital Wednesday. The medical examiner is waiting for the results of toxicology tests before issuing a cause and manner of death.
The results from the toxicology tests could take up to six weeks.
The woman was detained Friday afternoon on Minerva Street for allegedly possessing narcotics, according to Derby police Lt. Justin Stanko.
The Valley Indy decided to withhold her name pending the toxicology report after talking to two distraught members of her family, who declined comment. Funeral services have yet to be announced for the woman.
She was put into a Derby police car after being detained Friday, but never made it inside the police department.
“She was handcuffed, with her hands behind her back. Subsequent to that, but before arriving at the police station, she started to display signs of medical distress,” Stanko said.
The police officer driving the car used his radio to call for an ambulance to meet them at the police station a short distance away.
“An ambulance was immediately summoned,” Stanko said.
The handcuffs were removed after the woman was taken out of the police car so she could receive help from EMS outside the Derby Police Department on Water Street.
“She was transported directly from there to the hospital,” Stanko said.
She died at the hospital Wednesday.
According to police, an officer observed suspicious activity between the woman and a man on Minerva Street Friday afternoon. A subsequent investigation turned up narcotics on both parties, police said.
Derby police arrested and charged the man, Hector San Martin, 34, of Ansonia.
He is charged with possession of heroin, cocaine and less than 5 ounces of marijuana, along with possession with intent to sell each drug, among other charges.
San Martin is due in court in Derby on June 5.
A message seeking comment was sent to San Martin Thursday afternoon through social media.
In January 2009, an Ansonia man died after being detained by Derby police in connection to a fight he started outside a restaurant on Route 34 in east Derby.
A report from state police later showed the man had an enlarged heart, and that police did nothing wrong.
In that case, Derby police contacted the state’s attorney, who then requested state police review the incident.
Stanko said Wednesday the state’s attorney’s office has been contacted in connection to Friday’s incident.
In addition to issuing a cause of death, the medical examiner will also issue a manner of death, such as accidental, self-inflicted, homicide or undetermined, which help authorities how to proceed with a given case.
An earlier version of this story listed the date of death as Tuesday.
