Pubdate: Sat, 02 Sep 2006
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
Copyright: 2006 PG Publishing
Contact:  http://www.post-gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/341
Author: Gabrielle Banks
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

MEDICAL EXAMINER RULES VICTIM DIED AS RESULT OF COCAINE

The Allegheny County medical examiner's office said yesterday that a 
39-year-old man who was chased by McKeesport police and subdued by a 
police dog in June died from the effects of cocaine in his system.

His death on June 30 was ruled accidental.

Police said Gregory Green, of the Hill District, bolted out of an 
apartment in the Crawford Village public housing complex after 
threatening a McKeesport officer with a butcher knife. After a brief 
foot chase, police released a K-9, handcuffed Mr. Green and sent him 
to UPMC McKeesport.

The medical examiner's office said Mr. Green was in a state of 
"excited delirium" at the hospital -- with an elevated body 
temperature, blood pressure and heart rate -- when he suffered 
cardiac arrest. He died shortly after.

A pathologist noted that Mr. Green's body had superficial abrasions 
and lacerations on the scalp, trunk and extremities and "police dog 
bite marks on the left leg." However, there was no evidence of any 
injury to the brain or internal organs.

McKeesport Police Chief Joseph Pero said yesterday that his officers 
did not use excessive force and followed procedure when they 
responded to a domestic disturbance call less than an hour before Mr. 
Green's death.

County investigators concurred.

While a female acquaintance of Mr. Green's spoke to one responding 
officer, Mr. Green came at the other one with a knife, Chief Pero 
said. The officer retreated and Mr. Green exited into a residential 
area, brandishing the weapon and putting the public at risk, he said.

One officer chased him on foot, while the K-9 vehicle caught him at 
the bottom of a hill near Steelview Manor. Two other units arrived. 
Chief Pero said the man was "combative" and failed to comply with 
police, so he released the K-9. A struggle ensued.

Toxicology tests revealed that Mr. Green died as a result of "excited 
delirium syndrome" due to "acute cocaine toxicity," the report said.

Dr. Neil Capretto, medical director at Gateway Rehabilitation Center, 
said high levels of cocaine can raise the levels of dopamine enough 
to make a person agitated, delusional, paranoid and violent.

Former county Medical Examiner Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, who did a second 
autopsy on the body pro-bono, said some experts believe that "excited 
delirium" from cocaine causes superhuman strength and can elicit 
frenzied, erratic behavior and that overwhelms any sense of judgment. 
Dr. Wecht disagrees.

He said Mr. Green had three gaping lacerations to his scalp that 
could have bled a great deal and suggested an inquest into how much 
blood he lost.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman