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Norwalk Care Facility Employee Charged With Negligent Homicide

NORWALK, Conn. -- An employee of a Norwalk facility for people with intellectual disabilities was arrested Tuesday after police said his negligence led to the death of a resident of the facility last year.

Jamal Lee

Jamal Lee

Photo Credit: Norwalk Police Department

Police said that on Aug. 16, 2016 they responded to a report of an unresponsive man at the Connecticut Department of Developmental Service Lower Fairfield Center, located at 146 Silvermine Ave. in Norwalk. The facility is run by the Department of Developmental Service, which is responsible for the planning, development and administration of statewide services for people with intellectual disabilities.

When police arrived at the facility, they found that a 55-year-old resident, Thomas Lanza, was unresponsive. He was taken to Norwalk Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

Norwalk Police Detective Dominick Cisero assumed the death investigation. After a lengthy investigation that included multiple search warrants and employee interviews, it was determined that 40-year-old Jamal Lee of Bridgeport was the person responsible for Lanza's care that day, according to police.

Police said that it was determined that there was negligence in Lanza's care by not following the documented level of care protocol. A warrant was issued for Lee's arrest ,and he turned himself in on Tuesday.

Lee was charged with criminally negligent homicide. Bond was set at $5,000.

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