Man Charged with Manslaughter in Connection with July Overdose Death in Greenwich

Greenwich Police arrested a Stamford man on warrant on Wednesday and charged him with Manslaughter 1, Tampering with Evidence, Interfering with Police and Possession of Narcotics with Intent to sell.

Police obtained a warrant and contacted the man, Christopher Brokaw, 42, of 44 Schuyler Ave in Stamford. Brokaw made arrangements to surrender himself to a police officer without incident.

Brokaw was given a court set bond of $250,000, and after processing by police was assigned a court date in Stamford Superior Court on Jan 31, 2018.

The arrest was the result of a six month investigation into the drug overdose death of a Greenwich man in July 2017, according to a statement issued by Captain Berry on Thursday morning.

Back on July 8, numerous police officers, along with GEMS, were detailed to a residence on Alexander Street on a report of an unresponsive man. Upon arrival police and GEMS found no signs of life and the man was pronounced dead.

Investigation determined that Mr. Brokaw, who Greenwich Police were familiar with, provided illegal narcotics, which directly led to the death of the man.

Police also say that Mr. Brokaw attempted to cover up his involvement in the death.

The investigation has been one part of the collaborative effort within the Greenwich community to address the local and national crisis of opioids.

According to Lt Slusarz, there were several opioid overdose deaths in Greenwich last yeaer. “There were more than three,” he said. There were 55 sudden deaths in 2017. Those deaths break down to categories including drug overdoses, heart attacks, suicides, and old age.

Greenwich Police say they are using a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue, providing life-saving efforts in the field, connecting users to addiction services, arresting those manufacturing and distributing drugs, and education.

This is being done in conjunction with partners in the medical, education and counseling fields.

According to Lt Slusarz this is the second time a person has been charged by Greenwich Police with Manslaughter following a fatal opioid overdose.

In 2008, a local man, Frank Chimblo was sentenced in state Superior Court in Stamford to six years after pleading guilty to charges of Manslaughter 2 and Illegal Sale of Narcotics in the February 2007 death of Kyle Lendenmann, 17-year-old Greenwich High School student who overdosed on methadone.