The Multnomah County Medical Examiner said Monday that the cause of death of a man who struggled with police in Portland on Thanksgiving Day was an overdose and was not related to police use of force.
Richard Barry, 52, died in the hospital after a struggle with police in downtown Portland.
The medical examiner found that Barry died from acute methamphetamine and cocaine toxicity.
However, the medical examiner’s office has not released Barry’s autopsy report and says it is not planning to do so.
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Portland State University police responded to calls on Thanksgiving day about a man yelling and running in the street near Southwest 6th Avenue and Southwest Mill Street. Police located Barry, who reportedly struggled with PSU officers. PPB Central Precinct officers were then called to the scene.
Police said they restrained Barry because of his behavior and transported him by ambulance to a Portland hospital, where he died.
According to public records, Barry lived in an apartment in Northwest Portland, in a building run by Central City Concern that provides subsidized housing to people in addiction recovery and for people with disabilities. Barry was also known as Richard A. Hughey, according to court records.
One PSU officer was reportedly injured during the incident and then treated at a hospital.
Six officers — four from PSU and two Portland Police officers — were placed on paid leave pending the investigation into Barry's death.