Pubdate: Sat, 04 Nov 2006 Source: Eureka Reporter, The (US CA) Copyright: 2006 The Eureka Reporter Contact: http://www.eurekareporter.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3289 Author: Kara D. Machado Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials. TEEN'S BLOOD POSITIVE FOR DRUG Toxicology reports indicate Christopher Arrion Burgess had methamphetamine in his blood. Burgess, 16, of Eureka, was shot at about 2 p.m. Oct. 23 in a gulch behind the 2200 block of Chester by Eureka police Officer Terry Liles. The toxicology reports were released to the Humboldt County Coroner's Office at about 11:15 a.m. Friday, Coroner Frank Jager said. EPD Chief Dave Douglas said the blood taken for the toxicology testing -- done at a laboratory in Fresno -- was drawn while Burgess was at St. Joseph Hospital, just after the shooting. Friday's toxicology report results included testing for about 180 different prescription and illegal drugs -- including anti-depressants, heroin and cocaine -- and alcohol, Jager said. No other drugs, nor alcohol, were found in Burgess' system, Jager said. As Burgess' blood came back positive for methamphetamine, Jager said a marijuana test was requested, as marijuana was not included in those drugs previously tested for. The results of the marijuana test should be released next week, Jager said. There were puncture marks on Burgess' right arm that were indicative of needle use, he said. "On his left arm, the hospital had (used needles) for IVs, (etc.)," Jager said. "But, there were some of what we thought were needle puncture marks on his right arm. "The (forensic pathologist) in Redding -- (where the autopsy was performed Oct. 25) -- will probably comment on that in her autopsy report. The (formal autopsy) report will come out, I'm hoping, next week sometime." "But, at this point," Jager continued, "I can't say how (Burgess) ingested (the methamphetamine); I do not know. The forensic pathologist should cover all of that. She did a pretty detailed examination of the body." At about 3 p.m. Friday, Douglas held a news conference to not only announce the toxicology results, but to also make two pleas to the public. On either side of Douglas stood Jager and Eureka City Councilmember Mary Beth Wolford, Ward 1. All three made statements that methamphetamine can cause a user to experience irrational, spontaneous and/or paranoid behavior. Douglas would like to hear from anyone who knows how Burgess acquired the methamphetamine. He said they should phone the Humboldt County Drug Task Force. Douglas said the use of methamphetamine in the community is a "scourge." Community residents who are concerned about the shooting, he said, should also be concerned about how Burgess acquired the methamphetamine. "You want to do something positive, do that," Douglas said. "Don't make excuses (as to why not to)." His other plea was for help in the more than weeklong search for three possible witnesses in the Burgess case: [Name redacted], 60, of Eureka, and [Name redacted] and [Name redacted]. Douglas said the [Name redacted]' names may not be their correct names. "We need to talk to these people," Douglas said. "It's time for these people to come forward and it's time for people who may know (the three people) to come forward and let (investigators) know where they are." Burgess was shot not long after Humboldt County Probation officers radioed EPD for backup just before 2 p.m. Oct. 23, Douglas said. The probation officers, Douglas said, had tried to arrest Burgess on a probation violation while at a residence in the 3300 block of Dolbeer. Inside the Dolbeer house, Burgess allegedly threatened probation officers with a knife -- about 10 inches long from the tip of the knife to the bottom of the handle -- and was pepper-sprayed, Douglas said. When backed outside, Douglas said, Burgess threatened the probation officers again. Burgess was pepper-sprayed again, Douglas said. Burgess then took off running, turning around once to threaten the probation officers again, Douglas said. In the meantime, Douglas said, the probation officers radioed in for assistance. When the EPD was called for backup, Douglas has said, it was not made known Burgess' name or age, only that the suspect was a "he," was armed with a knife and was 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. Probation officers lost sight of Burgess near a gulch behind the 2200 block of Chester, Douglas said, where EPD Officer Terry Liles -- first of the backup to arrive -- eventually found him. Liles called out to Burgess to surrender and to drop the knife, Douglas said, but Burgess did not. At one point, Douglas said Burgess told the officer, "I don't want to go," and moved toward Liles as if he were going to stab him. Liles then fired his .40-caliber handgun at Burgess three times, Douglas said. Burgess' family members and friends have maintained that Burgess never threatened the officer, nor did he have the knife when he was shot. An autopsy determined Burgess was shot twice -- once in the hip and once in the chest -- said Humboldt County Coroner Frank Jager. The cause of death, Jager said, was "a penetrating bullet through the heart." Douglas said methamphetamine may have played a part, or was a major reason why Burgess did not comply with the officer's order. Burgess' mother, Margorie Burgess, said although her son may have been under the influence, he still should have not been shot. "I don't feel (his being under the influence) makes any type of a difference of his age or how he felt," Margorie said. "It probably amplified how he felt -- of being in fear of the people who were chasing him." As of Friday, Douglas said the multiagency Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team was continuing its investigation. And, Douglas added, he will continue to release information when it's released. The three possible witnesses or those who know of their whereabouts have been asked by authorities to phone Humboldt County District Attorney Investigator Mike Losey at 707-445-7411. To report the person(s) who gave Burgess methamphetamine, phone the HCDTF at 707-444-8095. Coroner said Burgess had high levels of methamphetamine in blood The amount of methamphetamine in Christopher Burgess' blood was listed at 0.08 milligrams per liter of blood -- relatively high, according to Humboldt County Coroner Frank Jager. He said 0.01 to 0.05 milligrams of methamphetamine per liter of blood is considered at a level where a person under the influence would "be definitely affected or feeling the effects of the drug." "And he was at a level of 0.08 milligrams (of methamphetamine) per liter (of blood)," Jager said. "So, he was even above the effective levels." Jager said the high levels of methamphetamine noted in the toxicology report is not unusual for that, hypothetically, of "a 16-year-old boy who just started using methamphetamine" or hadn't previously used it. "(That level) would affect, differently, someone younger who had just started using methamphetamine," Jager said, "than that of an adult who has used methamphetamine for a long period of time. "(However), I don't know how long (Burgess) had been using methamphetamine or if this was a new or old (habit)," Jager said. Burgess' mother, Margorie Burgess, said she was aware her son had "tried it and had done it once in awhile." Margorie said Burgess' experiences with methamphetamine were "how he went through the regional center once or twice." That is why she would phone Burgess' probation officer, Margorie said, to make them aware of the problem. "And they didn't do anything on it, but on their own time," Margorie said, "like when he would run away to breathe and be free." Eureka City Councilmember Mary Beth Wolford, Ward 1, said her ward covers the west side of Eureka, which has "a lot of drug problems." "(Methamphetamine) is a really horrifying and very violent drug," Wolford said, "and (when under the influence,) people feel supercharged. "It's a very, very potent drug and can cause a very violent reaction (when ingested). It's deadly and can make a person feel they have superhuman strength and power." Included in methamphetamine's ingredients -- which can commonly be bought over the counter -- are charcoal fluid and lye. "These ingredients, ingested solely on their own, could kill someone," Wolford said. Wolford, who said one of her main goals is to educate the community, along with its children, added that methamphetamine affects the same portion of the brain that stimulates pleasure. "They just don't know what they're doing (when under the influence)," Wolford said. "This year looks to be the second-highest year for drug overdoses," Jager said. "A couple of years ago we had a record number of deaths in Humboldt County (caused by overdoses)," Jager said. "(And,) that was 50. "We are probably headed for the second highest this year." Jager said most drug overdoses fall into three categories, being heroin, prescription drugs and methamphetamine. However, methamphetamine overdoses are lower in numbers than the other two categories. This year, Jager said, there have already been eight to nine overdoses from methamphetamine. To date, Jager added, overdose deaths are "up to 38, with a couple of months left to go." Toxic amounts of methamphetamine can affect a user's respiratory system and heart. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman