Suicide Ruled in Death of Safety Officer : Overdose of Drugs Held Cause of Collapse After Police Restraint

The death of Orange County’s safety officer, who collapsed and stopped breathing shortly after Tustin police restrained him four months ago, was ruled a suicide Monday by Sheriff-Coroner Brad Gates.

Robert Andrew Petry, 36, of Tustin died of pulmonary edema--a collection of fluid in the lungs--due to the combined effects of an overdose of three drugs, two of which are typically prescribed for depression, said Chief Deputy Coroner James Beisner.

“The medication that he took would explain partially the violent behavior” that led police to restrain Petry, Beisner said.

While he could not comment on Petry’s mental state, Beisner said the level of drugs was so “many, many, many times the therapeutic (prescribed) level” that authorities “could not conclude it was accidental.”

Police Called by Wife

Tustin police were summoned to Petry’s house late Jan. 9 by Petry’s wife, Carol, because Petry had become distraught “and he had never acted like that before,” Tustin Police Lt. Houston Williams said. When police arrived, Petry became combative and struck a sergeant in the left cheek with his fist, Williams said. Police restrained Petry with handcuffs and nylon rope around his ankles, but no combative force was used, he said.

A private ambulance was summoned to take Petry to Santa Ana Psychiatric Center, but he stopped breathing en route, Williams said. Ambulance attendants administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived. They transported Petry to Western Medical Center, where he died at 1:15 a.m. Jan. 10.

While the case was originally called an “in-custody death,” Williams said officers technically were assisting with medical aid.

Beisner said pulmonary edema is consistent with a drug overdose. Found in Petry’s system were propoxyphene and trimipramine, drugs typically prescribed for depression, as well as acetaminophen, a non-aspirin pain reliever. Petry had obtained the prescription drugs from his physician, Beisner said.

No Physical Injuries

There were no physical injuries to Petry’s body, although there were marks consistent with the use of handcuffs and ankle restraints, Beisner said.

The determination of death was made during a coroner’s review, a closed meeting of the sheriff-coroner, toxicologists, police, grand jury members and a representative of the district attorney’s office, which investigates in-custody deaths.

Williams said police understood Petry was distraught because he was “under a lot of pressure, self-made pressure. . . . He was a perfectionist from what we understand. We understand he loved his job and was an extra hard worker.”

As safety officer, Petry was responsible for inspecting county work sites and property for the Risk Management Department.

Co-workers described him as dedicated and respected by his peers. They said Petry had been hospitalized for what they believed to be an intestinal illness before the Christmas holidays and that he had lost a lot of weight.

An attorney for Petry’s widow declined comment on the coroner’s decision Monday, saying he had not yet read the report.