High alcohol level in youth killed by police

from The Oregonian, by Dana Tims


SUMMARY: Autopsy No other drugs are found in Lukus Glenn, and the case might be headed to a grand jury
Lukus Glenn's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit when he was shot and killed by two Washington County sheriff's deputies Sept. 16, according to a deputy state medical examiner.

Glenn, an 18-year-old former high school soccer and football star, had a blood alcohol level of .18 at the time of his death, said Dr. Larry Lewman. Oregon's legal limit is .08.

Additional toxicology tests showed that the Tigard-area teen had no other prescription or illegal drugs in his system at the time of the shooting, Lewman said.

An autopsy showed that two of the eight bullets that struck Glenn inflicted fatal injuries by severing large pelvic arteries. Non-fatal shots also struck Glenn in the legs, buttocks, lower back and right shoulder, Lewman said.

Meanwhile, a Washington County prosecutor said Tuesday that he will decide early next week whether to present facts surrounding the early morning shooting to a grand jury.

Rob Bletko, the county's chief deputy district attorney, said all investigative reports detailing Glenn's shooting should be on his desk as early as Friday.

Bletko said he will review the reports for several days before deciding either to ask for more information or take the case directly to a grand jury for possible criminal indictments. He said he could also conclude that the reports are sufficient, but that a grand jury presentation isn't warranted.

Among the topics Bletko hopes to see covered in the investigative documents is where Glenn obtained the alcohol he drank prior to the shooting.

Two Washington County sheriff's deputies, responding to a frantic 9-1-1 call for help from Glenn's mother, shot the young man after he refused to drop the knife he was holding and headed back into his house, which contained family members.

Only 10 minutes elapsed from the time Hope Glenn called police at 3:05 a.m. and the time her son lay dead near the family's front door step. Lukus Glenn was described by family members as extremely distraught and inebriated in the minutes leading up to the shooting.

In a related item, the Wilson High School girls soccer team has raised more than $3,000 through sales of T-shirts bearing the word HOPE --Help Officers Peacefully Enforce --in part to memorialize Lukus Glenn and honor Hope Glenn. Many girls at Wilson High are or have been coached by Hope Glenn. Proceeds from the sales will go to local police agencies to help provide enhanced training in crisis intervention.

The T-shirts will be available on the school's Web site, www.wilsonhs.com, in a day or two, according to school officials.