Former UW player's family alleges wrongful death

It's been nearly a year since former University of Washington cornerback Anthony Vontoure died in police custody in Sacramento, Calif., but his family remains unsatisfied with the official explanation of what happened during the early hours of May 31, 2002.

The Vontoure family will file a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging wrongful death today against the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.

The lawsuit will contest both the police version of events as well as the final coroner's report, which the family's lawyer, Oakland attorney John Burris, described as a "whitewash."


	Vontoure

The official report from the Sacramento County Coroner's Office ruled Vontoure died of excited delirium brought on by acute cocaine intoxication.

After reviewing results of an independent autopsy, the lawsuit will contend Vontoure died of asphyxia because of an illegal chokehold performed by the deputies.

Vontoure, who was dismissed from the UW football team on Feb. 6, 2001 because of numerous discipline infractions, died after a struggle with five sheriff's deputies six weeks short of his 23rd birthday.

Police were summoned to a Sacramento apartment complex at approximately 4 a.m. because Vontoure was suffering from a violent, psychotic episode aggravated by drug use, according to police reports.

The report and witnesses also said Vontoure was hallucinating, screaming that men in "green masks" were coming to get him.

The deputies were able to restrain and handcuff Vontoure, who appeared to be under control as he left the apartment.

But, in a renewed struggle by the patrol car, Vontoure's breathing and heart rate became erratic, and attempts to resuscitate him failed, according to police.

The sheriff's department didn't respond to a message left yesterday, but in July spokesperson James Lewis said the deputies never hit Vontoure or applied a choke hold, and the preliminary coroner's report said there were no signs of trauma sufficient to cause Vontoure's death.

Lewis also said, in addition to cocaine, a "byproduct that suggested a psychiatric drug" was found in Vontoure's system.

A number of people close to Vontoure told the P-I in July that Vontoure suffered from bipolar disorder -- a mental illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior -- though his family had no knowledge of a diagnosis.

Burris, who represented Rodney King and wrote the book, "Blue vs. Black: Let's End the Conflict between Cops and Minorities," suggested the Vontoures seek a second, independent autopsy after the funeral home noticed "irregularities" on Anthony's body.

After reviewing the second autopsy and the official police report, which wasn't made available to the family or the media, Burris wrote Mike Vontoure, Anthony's father, that he believed there were grounds for a lawsuit.

"The sheriff's report is a complete whitewash," the Jan. 13 letter said. "Essentially, it provides cover for the officers. The report does not account for the bruises that were on Anthony."

The independent autopsy, performed by Southern California forensic pathologist Dr. John Cooper, said Vontoure died of asphyxia and asserted the amount of cocaine in Vontoure's system was insufficient to cause death, according to Burris.

"(Cooper) believes the coroner is covering for the police," Burris wrote.

"There is sufficient support to file a lawsuit alleging that Anthony's death resulted from the illegal use of a choke hold."

Mike Vontoure said yesterday he hasn't discussed a dollar amount for the lawsuit with Burris.

"It's still an open wound for me," he said. "This won't be settled until I find out what happened and get some closure. John knows how to twist arms and find out the truth."

Mike Vontoure, who is retired and lives in Herald, Calif., said because he hasn't been able to access his son's adult medical records, he still remains unclear whether Vontoure suffered from bipolar disorder.

Vontoure, a former star at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., started 15 games for the Huskies.

He was widely viewed as an All-American candidate before what became a very troubled junior season.

He transferred to Portland State, but left the program after just a few weeks, when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks sapped his desire to play.

Vontoure had told friends he was training again in hopes of signing a free-agent contract with an NFL team, though a number of those close to him told the P-I he was struggling with depression and drug and alcohol abuse.

P-I reporter Ted Miller can be reached at 206-448-8017 or tedmiller@seattlepi.com

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