Pubdate: Fri, 24 Dec 2004
Source: Mohave Valley Daily News (AZ)
Copyright: Mohave Valley News 2004
Contact:  http://www.mohavedailynews.com/
Author: Jim Seckler
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DEATH OF MAN IN DEPUTIES' CUSTODY DETERMINED ACCIDENTAL

KINGMAN -- The death of a Kingman man who died in the custody of
Mohave County sheriff deputies has been ruled accidental.

The cause of Patrick Edward Bacon's Oct. 30 death was "consistent with
excited delirium due to stimulated drug use and arrest restraint,"
according to results from an autopsy performed by Maricopa County
Medical Examiner Dr. Philip Keen.

On Oct. 29, sheriff deputies were called to a disturbance at a store
in the 3000 block of Northern Avenue and escorted Bacon from the property.

About an hour later, deputies were called to another disturbance at
another store in the 2800 block of Northern Avenue and attempted to
arrest the same suspect, Bacon.

Deputies used pepper spray to subdue Bacon who continued to fight
officers after being handcuffed and then restrained with leg cuffs.

Needing medical attention, deputies took Bacon, 37, to Kingman
Regional Medical Center. Bacon was pronounced dead in the early
morning hours of Oct. 30.

An autopsy can show how someone died, either by accident, homicide,
suicide or an undetermined cause, Kingman police Sgt. Rusty Cooper
said.

Keen's autopsy showed that Bacon had significant levels of
methamphetamine detected in his system, Cooper said.

"The stimulant drug in the setting of an arrest restraint likely
triggered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia," Cooper said. "There were no
evidences of significant or life threatening trauma to the body."

Copper said the autopsy report will now go to the Mohave County
Attorney's Office for review. Most likely the incident will be sent to
another county such as the Yavapai County Attorney's Office for review.

Cooper said "excited delirium" from drug use is becoming more common
among methamphetamine users.

Methamphetamine is now being made with more powerful chemicals and
different methods causing users to possibly become more prone to
cardiac arrhythmia.

If law enforcement officers are forced to use pepper spray or Tasers
to subdue suspects, fatal incidents among drug users could increase.

The Bullhead City Police Department is currently investigating another
incident of a Kingman man who died while being handcuffed by sheriff
deputies.

James Tolbert, 57, was involved with a fight with another man Nov. 27
in the Butler area of Kingman.

Keen has also conducted an autopsy on Tolbert but results have not
been released.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin