BRIDGEPORT - Anthony Ball, the former interim director
of the Charles D. Smith Jr. Foundation who turned
whistleblower and accused top staff of the charity of fiscal
improprieties, has apparently committed suicide, police
said.
      Police Lt. James Viadero said Ball, who lived in New
Britain, was found dead in an apartment on Connecticut
Avenue here late Saturday morning.

      "At this point, there is every indication his death
was a suicide," he said Monday.

      Viadero said officials are awaiting the results of
tests before an exact cause of death can be determined.

      Viadero would not comment further on the circumstances
of Ball's death because the investigation is continuing.

      "We are still interviewing people to get more
background," he added.

      Ball accused former Smith Foundation Executive
Director Deborah Sims of charging more than $58,000 worth of
personal expenses on foundation credit cards. After Ball
went public with his allegations, Smith last November filed
a police complaint against Sims.

      That complaint is still under investigation.

      "He blew the whistle on financial activities at the
Charles Smith Foundation, but we don't believe there is any
connection between that and his death," Viadero said.

      Ball joined the Smith Foundation in 2006, working as a
consultant assigned to bring federal money to the
organization. The foundation, which runs recreational
activities and education programs, is also trying to
redevelop sections of the East Side.

      When Sims suddenly resigned last September, Smith
hired Ball as interim executive director.

      Before working at the foundation, Ball was chairman of
the Behavioral and Social Science Department at Housatonic
Community College, where he taught history and political
science.

      He had a law degree from Yale Law School, a master's
degree in public administration from Princeton University
and a bachelor's degree from Harvard University.

      "We are deeply saddened to hear of Mr. Ball's death,"
said HCC President Anita Gliniecki. "When he taught at
Housatonic he was deeply committed to his students and had a
positive impact on the lives of many of them. His death is a
great loss for all of us."