S.F. Coroner Blames Cocaine, Not a Beating, for Burglary Suspect’s Death

SAN FRANCISCO — A coroner’s report blames drugs, not a beating, for the controversial death of a San Francisco burglary suspect who died shortly after a struggle with arresting officers.

Aaron Williams, who was on parole, died of a drug-induced condition known as “acute excited delirium” due to “acute cocaine toxicity,” Medical Examiner Dr. Boyd Stephens concluded.

The amount of cocaine in Williams’ body was not lethal in itself, but it was enough to prompt the delirium reaction, which in turn probably caused Williams, 35, to have a heart attack, Stephens said in a document released Thursday.

“Excited delirium is a serious complication of cocaine abuse,” he said. The symptoms include aggressive behavior and bizarre actions or speech.

Critics had complained that police failed to take Williams to a hospital, even though he was bleeding and silent after a fight with arresting officers that was witnessed by more than a dozen residents of his Western Addition neighborhood.

Robert Kroll, an attorney for Williams’ family, said Friday that Stephens’ report “does not exonerate the police. In effect, [Williams’ death] is not murder, it’s manslaughter.

“This is just a cover-up,” said Lonnette Robinson, Williams’ aunt, responding to the coroner’s conclusions. “He was in real good health, strong as an ox.”

Williams died June 4 in a widely publicized incident that spawned four investigations by agencies including the FBI and the San Francisco Police Department.

A week after Williams’ death, demonstrators protesting what they contended was police brutality took over a Police Commission meeting. Two were arrested and later released.