SAN DIEGO: An attorney representing the parents of a male dancer killed by Harbor Police during this year's gay-pride festivities said yesterday that traces of drugs found in the man's system were from diet pills and cold medicine.
An autopsy report released yesterday showed that Steven Hirschfield had traces of methamphetamine, ketamine and doxylamine in his blood the night he died.
“Drugs did not play a part in this shooting – I want to make that 100 percent clear,” Los Angeles attorney Brian Claypool said at a news conference in front of the downtown San Diego courthouse.
Hirschfield, 37, of West Hollywood, had been hired to dance aboard the Inspiration, a charter yacht, July 20. He jumped overboard about 11 p.m., 10 minutes into the San Diego Bay cruise. He fought with two Harbor Police officers sent to rescue him, and one of the officers shot Hirschfield after he allegedly tried to grab the other officer's gun.
“The autopsy report indicates Steven Hirschfield was shot in an upright position,” Claypool said. “How is that possible . . . if he was trying to grab an officer's weapon?”
Claypool is representing Alan and Nicole Hirschfield of suburban Detroit, who have filed wrongful-death claims seeking $20 million from the Harbor Police Department and the officer, Clyde Williams, who killed their son.
San Diego police detectives are investigating the shooting. –T.M.
FBI seeking assistance
to identify bank robber
LEMON GROVE: The FBI is asking for the public's help in identifying the man who robbed a Wells Fargo Bank branch this week.
On Monday, the robber walked into the bank on Broadway east of Federal Boulevard about 9:30 a.m., passed a demand note to a teller and rushed out of the bank with an undisclosed amount of money, FBI agents said. No weapon was seen.
The robber was described as white, in his early 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium build. He was seen wearing a light T-shirt and a dark baseball cap. –A.M.
Doughnut store held up
by man simulating gun
SAN DIEGO: The Yum-Yum Donuts shop on Jamacha Road near Skyline Drive was robbed shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday by a man who simulated having a handgun in his pants pocket, San Diego police said.
The suspect was described as black, in his 30s, 6 feet 2 to 6 feet 5 inches tall, with a medium build. A black handkerchief covered his face, and he was wearing black pants with big pockets, police said. He left on foot. –S.S.
Drunken-driving suspect,
78, collides with police car
OCEANSIDE: A 78-year-old woman suspected of drunken driving was arrested early Monday after she collided with a patrol car, police said.
The woman was driving south on South Coast Highway near Michigan Avenue about 2:30 a.m. when she made a left turn into the path of a police cruiser heading north, police said.
The woman and the police officer suffered minor injuries in the collision and were taken to a hospital.
Officers investigating the accident said the woman displayed symptoms consistent with someone driving under the influence of alcohol. After she was released from the hospital, she was booked into the Vista jail on suspicion of drunken driving.
The officer was released from the hospital that morning and returned to work.–A.M.
Auto-parts store damage
from blaze at $2 million
CHULA VISTA: A fire at an auto-parts store Tuesday night caused $2 million in damage to the building and the contents of the store, a San Diego fire dispatcher said yesterday.
Firefighters have classified the blaze as “unintentional,” but the exact cause has not been determined, the dispatcher said.
The fire was reported about 10:30 p.m. at Kragen Auto Parts on Broadway near E Street. It was mostly extinguished by 11 p.m. Dispatchers at the time said mattresses and rubbish that were piled up against the building also burned.
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department also handles emergency calls for Chula Vista. –A.M.
Staff writers Tony Manolatos, Susan Shroder, and Angelica Martinez contributed to this report.
