Cocaine Reportedly Found in Man Now in Coma After Arrest

Preliminary blood tests performed on Mark Kevin Ross, the young man who fell into a coma hours after a struggle with Huntington Beach police during an arrest, indicate that cocaine was in his system at the time, a source close to the investigation said Friday.

In a separate development, Loren DuChesne, chief investigator for the

Orange County district attorney’s office, said that more witnesses to last Saturday morning’s arrest have come forward. Previously, two passersby told investigators that they saw Ross beaten by police. DuChesne declined to say whether the new witnesses have supported or disputed the earlier report.

Ross, 23, of Huntington Beach, was arrested after he and his brother, Robert, were stopped by police at Newland Street and Ellis Avenue. Officers Dan Johnson and Heather Dreyer found several outstanding traffic warrants against Ross and told investigators that he resisted arrest while being taken into custody.

Hours after the 7:30 a.m. arrest, Ross was found to be having trouble breathing at Huntington Beach City Jail, and he was taken to Pacifica Community Hospital. He remains there in critical condition where, according to one physician close to the case, his condition is worsening as he continues on life-support systems.

‘He’s Getting Worse’

The physician, who asked not to be identified, said that all of Ross’ “organ systems have been losing their functions” and that “he’s getting worse on a daily basis.”

Standing outside his Fashion Island store, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Ross’ anguished father said Friday: “Mark’s condition is not good. He’s just got a couple of vital signs. I’m just concerned about the medical reports and how my son is doing.”

Asked to describe his son, Ross added: “Everybody’s kid is a good kid. He did the usual things kids do. But he doesn’t deserve to die.”

Mark Ross’ sister, Gail, reached at the family’s Huntington Beach home, said she thought both police and her brother were at fault. She said the police acted “irresponsibly” and could have been “more compassionate” in their actions, but added: “I think mistakes were made on both sides.”

The source who spoke of the cocaine would not say how much of the substance was found in Ross’ system.

In reference to the cocaine report, investigator DuChesne said: “That is definitely one of the aspects that we are looking at.”

DuChesne said his office has had as many as eight investigators on the case, seeking to determine whether Ross’ coma is a result of a drug overdose or a beating by police. One of the things that they will look at is whether the arresting officers had dealt before with Ross, who, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles, had seven driving citations in the last six years.

Authorities have said the arresting officers used no more force than was justified by the circumstances. DuChesne said that Officers Johnson and Dreyer “claim the force was reasonable to overcome the subject’s resistance.”

Neither Johnson nor Dreyer could be reached for comment Friday.

But Huntington Beach Lt. Patrick Gilday said, “Officer Dreyer said she is too upset at this time to talk . . . with anyone from the media. As soon as we get the toxicological reports back, we will be making a press release, and I’m sure she will want to talk with you at that time.”

Protest Planned

Ross’ friends said Friday that about 300 people are expected to protest outside the Huntington Beach Police Station on Sunday.

Donna Jutkins who has known Ross for a year, said: “Mark wouldn’t hurt a fly. He always helped others, and he was always there when people needed him.”

A trust fund has been established at St. Wilfrid’s Episcopal Church in Huntington Beach for Ross’ 19-year-old girlfriend, Veronica Joyner, who is two months’ pregnant with their child.

“Mark would have wanted this for Veronica and the baby,” said Jutkins, 19, who started the fund with Denine Long, 22. “They were planning to get married. If he dies, the fund can help the baby.”

According to a spokesman for the DMV, Ross had been stopped by police several times in the past for traffic citations.

Among the citations, issued between December, 1980, and June, 1985, were driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, speeding in bad weather and driving under the influence. The spokesman added that after Ross’ license was suspended on June 5, 1985, he attended an alcoholic rehabilitation program.

‘Perceptive and Bright’

Although Ross’ family members declined to talk about the young man’s past, a church counselor who met Ross when he was without a place to live or work, called him “perceptive and bright.”

Ames Hendrickson said he first met Ross four years ago at St. Wilfrid’s when Ross came to live there. Hendrickson said Ross was among several young people who were without a job or a place to live and were taken in by the church’s Good Samaritan Project.

“I found that Mark was perceptive and bright,” Hendrickson said. “He really enjoyed studying the Bible.”

In a handwritten letter dated March 7, 1983, entitled “What the Good Samaritan Project meant to me,” Ross thanked Ames for his guidance and for a closer connection to God.

“It meant having a place to stay while trying to get my act together and people to help me along. . . . I think the project is great but feel especially since staying there that close guidance and regulation is essential even if to the dismay of the person or persons staying there. Because they will tend to take advantage of the free place to stay and lose motivation to get a job and get their act on the road.”

Ross’ 27-year-old brother, Robert, who was a passenger in the car last Saturday but was not arrested, also participated in the Good Samaritan program. In a note dated Feb. 18, 1984, on the same church poster, he wrote: “Helped me out in time of need.”

In other developments Friday, Huntington Beach City Atty. Gail Hutton said her office is preparing to respond to a demand by Freedom Newspapers Inc., owner of the Orange County Register, that police records on the case be made public. The Huntington Beach Police Department has refused to release its report on the incident.

And Ross’ family has retained Santa Ana attorney James DiCesare , according to the senior Ross.

Times staff writer David Reyes contributed to this story.