Drug Death Is Blamed on Dentist

A San Diego dentist was charged Tuesday with the involuntary manslaughter of a woman who fell to her death from a Long Beach hotel after he allegedly gave her Ecstasy, authorities said.

Sandra Rodriguez, 26, fell from a 12th-floor alcove of the Long Beach Hyatt shortly after suffering a violent reaction to the drug, Los Angeles Deputy Dist. Atty. Deborah Montoya said. Dentist Kami Hoss had dragged her from the room into the hallway after she became ill, Montoya said.

“She didn’t want to go, but he dragged her out,” the prosecutor said. “He provided her with the Ecstasy and sees that she’s having a violent reaction and instead of providing care, he throws her out when she obviously couldn’t take care of herself.”

After a yearlong investigation, Long Beach police arrested Hoss, 34, at his Chula Vista office about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Officer Jana Blair.

In the early morning hours of May 28 of last year, Hoss and his wife apparently met three young women at Long Beach’s Executive Suite bar, Montoya said.

The group drove to the Hosses’ room at the Hyatt, where the dentist apparently gave the women Ecstasy, Montoya said.

About 3 a.m., Rodriguez became ill. Hours later, a maintenance worker found her body on the ground outside the hotel, Montoya said.

Although Hoss’ wife was present, she will not be charged, the prosecutor said. At least one of the other young women in the room saw the dentist dragging the ill Rodriguez out of the room, Montoya said.

Hoss, whose bail was set at $45,000, is expected to be arraigned today or Thursday. He could face five years in jail, Montoya said.