Coroner Releases Details on Man Who Stopped Breathing While Handcuffed

An allegedly out-of-control man who stopped breathing while being taken into custody by the Sheriff's Department outside a Moreno Valley restaurant in October had high concentrations of illegal drugs in his system and he suffered from heart disease, the coroner's office reported Tuesday.

The fatal incident, which has been reviewed to the Riverside County Grand Jury, occurred Friday Oct. 11 in the drive-thru of a Burger King at 23125 Hemlock Ave., according to the Sheriff's Department.

Raymond Lewis Johnson, 41, lost consciousness and stopped breathing as Riverside County sheriff's deputies attempted to restrain him, sheriff's officials said.

Johnson was later pronounced dead at Riverside County Regional Medical Center, according to the coroner.

Use-of-force tactics deputies employed to arrest Johnson drew criticism from his family and community groups, prompting sheriff's officials to take extra steps to inform the public about the post-mortem investigation.

Preliminary autopsy results released in November showed Johnson had high levels of PCP in his stomach and trace amounts in his blood, according to the sheriff's department.

"PCP was also located in his urine and vitreous fluid, which is indicative of the potential of steady use of the drug," sheriff's personnel said in a statement. "In addition to the PCP, there was cocaine, marijuana and their derivatives located in his urine. Those findings indicate that those drugs were ingested earlier than the PCP."

Comments released by coroner's personnel Dec. 17 include:

Upon completion of the Coroner Review process, the following was presented to the Riverside County Grand Jury and certified by the Coroner:

Cause of Death: Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease with other significant condition of Acute Phencyclidine (PCP) intoxication and physical altercation with law Enforcement.

A normal sized heart weighs about 300 to 350 grams on average.  In this case, the heart weighed 570 grams which greatly increases risk for sudden cardiac death at any time, particularly when stressed.

PCP has no legitimate medical use for humans and therefore has no therapeutic levels to consider. Additionally, PCP’s effect on individuals is varied based upon its concentration, how it was ingested, and the particular individual using it.  The amount of PCP found in Raymond Johnson’s blood, 0.142 mg/L, is at a level consistent with other fatalities involving PCP where there was no other apparent reason for the death. 

Manner of Death: Homicide

The term Homicide as it relates to a Coroner Investigation is a neutral term and does not imply any criminal intentions. It is simply defined as any death which is not an accident or suicide and where a volitional act was directed toward the decedent that leads to their death.

Mode of Death: Involved in a physical altercation with Law Enforcement while under the influence of an illicit substance while suffering from Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease.

According to sheriff's Lt. Joe Borja, deputies were sent to the Burger King around 6 p.m. on Oct. 11 to investigate reports of an agitated man in a car, thrashing about uncontrollably.

The first deputy to arrive attempted to make contact with the 6-foot-3, 216-pound suspect, but Johnson was unresponsive and instead began kicking the interior of his car, Borja said in a statement.

The suspect attempted to start his vehicle several times without success, at which point the deputy, fearing Johnson would drive away and potentially cause a wreck, deployed his pepper spray, Borja said.

The deputy aimed the pepper spray it into Johnson's face, which momentarily stunned the suspect, who began "pulling on his steering wheel and again attempted to start the vehicle," Borja said.

The deputy then used his Taser, shocking Johnson several times, without any apparent effect, Borja said.

The suspect allegedly grabbed the lawman's hand to prevent him from using the Taser again, and the two men became locked in a struggle that continued until backup deputies arrived and corralled Johnson, who reached beneath the passenger seat of his car - raising concerns that he might be trying to get hold of a weapon, according to Borja.

A deputy struck Johnson with a baton to make him release his grip on whatever he was holding underneath the seat, and deputies then successfully pulled him out of the vehicle, handcuffing him and placing him on the ground, Borja said.

It was at that point Johnson stopped breathing, prompting the deputies to summon an ambulance. Borja said the suspect had abrasions but no injuries that outwardly appeared to be life-threatening.

For reports about Johnson's death from October see:

CUSTODY DEATH UPDATE: Sheriff's Department Releases Detailed Account

CUSTODY DEATH: Man in Ruckus at MoVal Burger King, Stops Breathing While Handcuffed