Pernell Aio, who fell from an H-1 freeway bridge while in police custody earlier this month, was high on methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth, according to the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office.
Dr. Rachel Lange, who conducted Aio’s autopsy, said a toxicology report shows Aio had 450 nanograms per milliliter of methamphetamine in his blood. Generally speaking, that amount of methamphetamine is associated with violent, irrational behavior and hallucinations, she said.
Aio, 37, of Ewa Beach, did not have other drugs in his system, Lange said. His cause of death is pending.
Police said Aio was in the back of a police cruiser March 2 when he kicked out the rear passenger window, freed himself from handcuffs and jumped out the window when the officer stopped along the eastbound lanes of H-1 near Kunia.
The officer and an off-duty officer in the area tried to stop Aio, but he climbed over the concrete barrier of the Honouliuli Bridge. The two officers were able to hold onto Aio for a few seconds before he fell about 25 feet to his death.
Police said before the incident, Aio had been cooperative when his family brought him to the Kapolei police station, concerned about his and other people’s safety. Aio was not arrested, but he was handcuffed in the front to be transported to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha told the Honolulu Police Commission last week that the department formed an ad hoc committee to review the incident and look for ways to improve.
He said the committee might require older Ford Crown Victoria police cars be retrofitted with side cages that would prevent someone from kicking the windows out. Aio was in a Crown Victoria without window cages. Newer police vehicles already have them.
Kealoha said the committee is also looking at using body cuffs — shackles around the waist and wrists that are considered more comfortable than handcuffs — for transporting patients for medical evaluations.
He said body cuffs are uncommon for medical transports because the patients are not under arrest.
