Cocaine Level Found to Be High in Man in Coma After Arrest

The amount of cocaine found in the blood of Mark Kevin Ross, who lapsed into a coma after his arrest by Huntington Beach police 12 days ago, was “significantly higher” than levels that have caused cocaine overdose deaths in the past, the Orange County district attorney’s office said Wednesday.

That office, which is investigating the circumstances of the arrest and police handling of Ross, has not yet determined whether police used excessive force with the 23-year-old Huntington Beach man, as his family and some witnesses have alleged. Ross, a free-lance artist, remains comatose with minimal brain activity and on life-support systems at Pacifica Community Hospital.

Advised of Results

Deputy Dist. Atty. Wallace J. Wade said his office was advised Wednesday of the results of a chemical analysis on clinical blood samples taken from Ross by hospital personnel on Dec. 13, the day Ross was arrested on outstanding traffic warrants.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department crime laboratory, which analyzed the samples, “states that the levels of cocaine and cocaine metabolite (metabolized traces of the drug) detected in Mr. Ross’ blood are significantly higher than levels that have caused cocaine overdose deaths investigated by the sheriff-coroner’s office in the past,” Wade said.

“Other aspects of the investigation are continuing,” he said. He would not comment on whether his investigation had revealed the circumstances of Ross’ cocaine ingestion.

Ross’ family and their attorney could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Ross was arrested after he and his brother, Robert, 27, 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 had trouble breathing at the Huntington Beach City Jail and was taken to Pacifica Community Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said Wednesday that Ross remains in critical condition and that doctors have not declared him brain dead.

“We’re still talking to people and looking at all of the other aspects of the arrest,” Wade said of the investigation.

Authorities have said the arresting officers used no more force than was justified by the circumstances. A district attorney’s investigator said that the officers claimed the force was reasonable to overcome Ross’ resistance.

But according to Ross’ girlfriend, the comatose man’s brother, Robert Ross, saw police beat Mark Ross with a club while holding him down during the arrest. Two passers-by reportedly also told investigators that they saw Ross being beaten.

After the initial news of the arrest was released, additional witnesses have come forward, according to the district attorney’s office, but investigators have declined to say whether the new witnesses supported or disputed the earlier report.

James DiCesare, the Ross family’s attorney, said this week he has talked with two witnesses who said police hit Ross with a baton 10 to 20 times, used a chokehold on him and held him at the scene for more than an hour.

Welts on Back

The witnesses saw at least two welts on Ross’ back, observed him being thrown against the hood of a vehicle and noticed that “blood was coming out of his nose and mouth,” DiCesare said. “In addition, they heard him yell, ‘Stop it, you’re hurting me.”’ They also saw Ross slump down in the back of the police unit, the attorney said.

DiCesare would not identify the witnesses but said they were “very close” to the arrest scene and had an “excellent view.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Wade said he would not comment on DiCesare’s allegations.

DiCesare said he has been retained by the Ross family to “look into” the police treatment. He declined to comment on whether the family will disconnect life support systems.

“The family is very distraught obviously. . . . It’s a real tragedy, a nightmare, the worst thing a parent can face,” DiCesare said.