SARNIA, ON – Paul Horan died while in Ontario Provincial Police custody because of methadone and anti-depressant toxicity, a coroner’s inquest heard Friday.

Paul Horan, 43, of Sarnia died in the early morning of Sept. 24, 2010, at Bluewater Health’s Charlotte Eleanor Englehart site, about three hours after he was arrested on Hwy. 402 for failing to stop his vehicle for an OPP officer.

Horan had been prescribed both medications, which are central nervous system depressants.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Elena Tugaleva told the inquest the cause of death was the toxicity of both medications in his blood.

The toxicity of the central nervous system depressants causes breathing difficulties, and Horan was likely in respiratory failure when he died, said Tugaleva.

He was alert and talking with police officers upon arrest, but a hald-hour later, he became unresponsive with his eyes rolled back in his head, but he was still breathing.

During Tugaleva’s autopsy, superficial injuries were found including bruises around his wrists likely due to Horan having been handcuffed.

There were also small cuts on his tongue, likely from Horan biting himself during convulsions that started as he was being taken by ambulance to the hospital.

One of Horan’s ribs was fractured, which Tugaleva said was likely due to chest compression administered at the hospital during resuscitation attempts.

The inquest expected to continue into next week was mandatory because Horan died in police custody.

neil.bowen@sunmedia.ca