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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 26, 2006 Taser ruled out as death cause Medical examiner says evidence points to drugs as a possible contributor to former Ashland athlete’s death By JENNIFER SQUIRES for the Mail Tribune Preliminary results of an autopsy on an Ashland man who died in police custody this week point to an overdose of sleeping capsules — not the stun gun Ashland police officers used to subdue the suicidal man — as the cause of death. Dr. James Olson, a deputy state medical examiner, completed the autopsy Tuesday of Nick Ryan Hanson, 24, who was a two-time All-American track and field athlete at Southern Oregon University. "(Olson) ruled out the Taser as a cause of death," Jackson County sheriff’s detective Dan Hobbs said. Ashland police responded to Hanson’s Lincoln Street apartment Sunday night after his family in Bend called emergency dispatchers at about 9:20 to report that he was suicidal. Concerned family members had maintained telephone contact with Hanson, Hobbs said. When officers tried to approach Hanson, he became combative and physically threatened them, Hobbs said. They subdued him with the stun gun and immediately called an ambulance. Hanson died on the way to Rogue Valley Medical Center, Hobbs said. Advertisement Olson found that Hanson would have died immediately if the stun gun’s electric shock proved fatal. The final results of toxicology tests won’t be complete for weeks and Olson won’t sign a death certificate and close the case until then, Hobbs said. Based on information from the autopsy and from medicine packaging found at Hanson’s apartment, investigators suspect he drank liquid collected from gelatin sleeping capsules. Friends and family members say Hanson had been depressed and had attempted suicide two years ago. "I did know he was upset and depressed," said Sammy Calterbros, 24, of Ashland, a friend who talked to Hanson just before 9 p.m. Sunday. Hanson’s father, Ron, called his son on Sunday night from Bend after another friend, Nick Baron of Portland, phoned the family about a conversation he’d had with Hanson. "He seemed a little bit different. I just thought I’d call them up," Baron said, adding he didn’t expect the fatal outcome. "I was like, maybe he was just in a weird mood and nothing would come of it." Ron Hanson spoke with his son while Joni, Hanson’s mother, waited. When Ron gave a thumbs up, Joni thought the son they had adopted from Sao Paulo, Brazil, when he was 8 years old would be OK. "Then Nick fell apart, so my husband told me to go call 9-1-1," Joni Hanson said, explaining that her husband stayed on the phone with him while police responded. Nick Hanson had attempted suicide in fall 2004 and, on Sunday night, his desire to end his life was "for pretty much the same reasons," Joni Hanson said. Nick Hanson, a health and physical education major, was close to graduation, but failed a class he needed to receive his degree. He had also exhausted his athletic eligibility, family members said. "He didn’t know what he was going to do, how he was going to support himself," Joni Hanson said. "I guess just scared of the future." She believes the officers’ actions were appropriate and said her family does not blame police for their son’s death. One of the Ashland police officers present Sunday night has been put on light duty because of injuries she received when breaking down Hanson’s door. The two other officers remain at work. Officers aren’t put on administrative leave for use-of-force cases like this, according to Chief Mike Bianca. Jennifer Squires is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. She can be reached at 482-3456 or [email protected]. Mail Tribune reporter Anita Burke contributed to this story. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement