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Chain saw attacker had BAC of 0.495 ("Suicide by cop")
Citizen's Voice ^ | 3/30/2005 | Robert Kalinowski
William Henkle had more than 20 alcoholic drinks in his system when he attacked police with a chain saw outside his Forty Fort home last month, toxicology tests reveal.
Henkle, who was killed by a flurry of police bullets following the attack, had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.495 percent, according to test results recently received by the Luzerne County coroner's office.
The 40-year-old's blood-alcohol concentration was more than six times the amount (0.08) to be considered legally drunk in Pennsylvania.
No traces of illegal drugs were found in the two blood samples and one urine sample tested at National Medical Services, a toxicology laboratory in Willow Grove, Montgomery County.
Henkle's death was labeled "suicide by cop" by state police and justifiable homicide by the county district attorney's office.
Investigators say he baited police to his home at 378 River St. around 5 a.m. on Feb. 21 with a false 911 call of him having a heart attack. He then relentlessly pursued officers with the chain saw outside his residence for several minutes, police said.
Police fired nearly 40 bullets at Henkle, hitting him about 15 times, during the altercation.
Prior to police firing the deadly bullets, Henkle was first pepper sprayed in the face, but laughed and continued to charge at officers. After striking a state trooper with the chain saw, he was then shot three times, but regrouped and attacked again, police said.
Luzerne County Coroner Dr. George Hudock said it's possible - though he can't be sure - that Henkle was not phased by the pepper spray and got back on his feet after the initial gunshots because the amount of alcohol in his system.
"Alcohol is like an anesthetic. You get really drunk and you don't feel a thing," he said. "I've seen cases where people involved in major auto accidents, who have a broken leg, say they're fine because they're drunk."
The amount of alcohol running through Henkle's veins could "theoretically" have been enough to kill Henkle, Dr. Hudock said.
Some medical experts say a blood-alcohol concentration between 0.30 percent and 0.40 percent could render one unconscious and make them vomit, and a blood alcohol concentration of 0.40 and up could lead to a coma and possible death due to respiratory arrest, Dr. Hudock said.
However, each case and each person is different, he said. Though 0.495 on the blood alcohol concentration scale is high, Dr. Hudock said he's seen higher levels from people who remained conscious.
He remembers one person arrested for driving under the influence years ago in Luzerne County having a BAC of 0.80 percent.
Police said Henkle had a history of mental illness. It's still unknown if he was taking medication for the illness around the time he was killed.
Dr. Hudock said the he ordered toxicology tests for commonly abused drugs. There is another test for prescription drugs, but that was not ordered, he said.
Citizen's Voice ^ | 3/30/2005 | Robert Kalinowski
William Henkle had more than 20 alcoholic drinks in his system when he attacked police with a chain saw outside his Forty Fort home last month, toxicology tests reveal.
Henkle, who was killed by a flurry of police bullets following the attack, had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.495 percent, according to test results recently received by the Luzerne County coroner's office.
The 40-year-old's blood-alcohol concentration was more than six times the amount (0.08) to be considered legally drunk in Pennsylvania.
No traces of illegal drugs were found in the two blood samples and one urine sample tested at National Medical Services, a toxicology laboratory in Willow Grove, Montgomery County.
Henkle's death was labeled "suicide by cop" by state police and justifiable homicide by the county district attorney's office.
Investigators say he baited police to his home at 378 River St. around 5 a.m. on Feb. 21 with a false 911 call of him having a heart attack. He then relentlessly pursued officers with the chain saw outside his residence for several minutes, police said.
Police fired nearly 40 bullets at Henkle, hitting him about 15 times, during the altercation.
Prior to police firing the deadly bullets, Henkle was first pepper sprayed in the face, but laughed and continued to charge at officers. After striking a state trooper with the chain saw, he was then shot three times, but regrouped and attacked again, police said.
Luzerne County Coroner Dr. George Hudock said it's possible - though he can't be sure - that Henkle was not phased by the pepper spray and got back on his feet after the initial gunshots because the amount of alcohol in his system.
"Alcohol is like an anesthetic. You get really drunk and you don't feel a thing," he said. "I've seen cases where people involved in major auto accidents, who have a broken leg, say they're fine because they're drunk."
The amount of alcohol running through Henkle's veins could "theoretically" have been enough to kill Henkle, Dr. Hudock said.
Some medical experts say a blood-alcohol concentration between 0.30 percent and 0.40 percent could render one unconscious and make them vomit, and a blood alcohol concentration of 0.40 and up could lead to a coma and possible death due to respiratory arrest, Dr. Hudock said.
However, each case and each person is different, he said. Though 0.495 on the blood alcohol concentration scale is high, Dr. Hudock said he's seen higher levels from people who remained conscious.
He remembers one person arrested for driving under the influence years ago in Luzerne County having a BAC of 0.80 percent.
Police said Henkle had a history of mental illness. It's still unknown if he was taking medication for the illness around the time he was killed.
Dr. Hudock said the he ordered toxicology tests for commonly abused drugs. There is another test for prescription drugs, but that was not ordered, he said.
