Honda's toxicology reports in
by Heather Muller , 12/23/2006
The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office confirmed Friday that Jonni Honda, the 51-year-old Trinity County fugitive who held police in a three-day standoff at a Eureka motel, had a potentially lethal dose of methamphetamine in his system Dec. 8 when he was shot and killed by officers of the Eureka Police Department.
Deputy Coroner Charlie VanBuskirk said toxicology reports showed Honda’s blood post mortem contained 0.94 milligrams of methamphetamine per liter.
“It’s potentially toxic at 0.2 to 5.0 (mg/L),” VanBuskirk said. “The effective levels are much lower than that, effective being where you get the desired effect without the side effects.”
Tests also showed potentially toxic levels of amphetamine — 0.42 mg/L, VanBuskirk said, adding that .2 mg/L would be potentially toxic.
He clarified, however, that methamphetamine converts to amphetamine in the body, and said he believed it was possible that only methamphetamine had been ingested.
While VanBuskirk wouldn’t speculate about Honda’s method of ingestion — “You get different levels whether you inject it or snort it or whatever,” he said — he did say that he believed the tests indicated Honda was taking methamphetamine during the standoff.
“It appears he was using meth during the time he was secured in the motel room,” he said.
Honda was the second person in less than two months killed by the EPD, with both decedents subsequently testing positive for methamphetamine.
Christopher Burgess, 16, was shot and killed Oct. 23 while reportedly brandishing a knife after fleeing from probation officers. Post mortem toxicology screenings showed Burgess’ blood contained .08 mg/L of methamphetamine.
EPD interim Police Chief Murl Harpham said officers at the motel standoff had been told Honda might be using methamphetamine, and they responded accordingly.
“At the time it was discussed as a possibility because it was indicated to us by people with him that he was using speed.”
And, Harpham said, Honda’s behavior was another indicator.
“He was up awake pretty much the whole time, the whole 33 hours, whereas all of us got relieved and got some sleep. That’s kind of typical of people who are speeding to stay awake for long hours, and his other actions indicated there was more involved there.”
Harpham said he believed Honda “used up everything he had in the room before he came out.”
He added that methamphetamine “played a tremendous role” in both the Honda and Burgess incidents.
“It plays a tremendous role in our entire community,” he said, blaming its prevalence in part on the number of social services available to Eureka’s transient population.
The services exist to meet the real needs of drug users, he said, but they also attract more drug users — and therefore more drugs — to the area.
“I was asked why people were camping on the Balloon Track, and it was an easy answer. Look where the Balloon Track is in relation to all the services these people can get — free meals, new needles, mental health services, AIDs testing. And there’s the drugs right there, too, all within a few blocks of where they’re camping,” he said.
“We’re enabling the situation we have in this town by all the services we provide. Some of these people are greatly in need, but a lot of them are there by choice, particularly the ones who are on drugs.
“It’s really sad,” he continued. “They all need help, but they’re getting the wrong kind of help. We’re part of the problem because we’re allowing it to continue.”
VanBuskirk said Honda tested negative for alcohol. A marijuana test is pending, with results expected late next week.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
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