Police Say Witness Saw Jackson Use Cocaine

Police investigating the sudden death of Texas El Paso basketball star Hernell (Jeep) Jackson arrested a waitress Wednesday on charges of delivering cocaine he later ingested.

El Paso Police Lt. J.R. Grijalva confirmed that the arrest was made in connection with the probe into Jackson’s death. He would not say whether investigators believed a delivery of the drug was made to Jackson, who collapsed Saturday at a charity basketball game.

However, a police affidavit filed in court said a witness told investigators that Michelle Lee Cabrera met with Jackson and others at a restaurant Friday night, then went with them to Jackson’s apartment, where she delivered to Jackson “a quantity of what was referred to as cocaine, and Jackson ingested some of the substance in a manner consistent with cocaine use.”

Cabrera, 19, of El Paso, was arrested at her home and charged with delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine under 28 grams, Grijalva said. Bond was set at $500,000.

Grijalva refused to say whether police now believed Jackson’s death was caused by cocaine.

“There’s a possibility of further arrests,” he said. “I can’t go into that. The investigation is ongoing.”

Jackson, who helped UTEP win four consecutive Western Athletic Conference championships, was eulogized as “a winner” in a memorial service Tuesday on the campus. His body was returned to Carson, Calif., where funeral services will be held Saturday.