Oregon police captain denies being drunk on job
Blames prescription sleep medication
OREGON CITY, Ore. – A high-ranking police officer denies he was drunk during an investigation into the faith-healing death of a 15-month-old girl and blames his appearance on medical problems.
Clackamas County sheriff’s Capt. Bruce Pearson staggered, slurred his words and reeked of alcohol when he arrived at the March 2 investigation into the child’s death, according to 11 sworn statements made public Friday in court.
Pearson denied in an interview Friday that he was drunk, instead blaming his appearance on multiple medical conditions.
“I was not drunk – absolutely not,” Pearson, a 19-year sheriff’s office veteran, told The Oregonian. “In fact, I’m allergic to alcohol.”
Pearson, 57, said he suffers from diabetes and that his body secretes a form of alcohol through his pores.
He blamed his unsteady gait and distorted speech on Sonata, a prescription sleep aid he took that night for the first – and only – time.
He said he does not remember answering a 9:30 p.m. call to the home of Carl and Raylene Worthington, whose daughter died that night of a treatable condition.
The allegations against Pearson surfaced during a pretrial hearing in the state’s case against the Worthingtons, who are members of the fundamentalist Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City.
The Worthingtons have been charged with manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in the death of their daughter, Ava. A medical examiner said Ava’s bronchial infections could have been treated with antibiotics.
Defense attorneys Mark Cogan and John Neidig asked the court Friday to require prosecutors to turn over evidence they gathered. They also were ready to call the 11 witnesses who had filed their statements against Pearson.
But Clackamas County Presiding Judge Steven Maurer did not allow the witnesses to testify. He also turned down requests to compel prosecutors to turn over evidence, saying information was being shared according to schedule.
Cogan and Neidig said they may make another request to obtain information on Pearson, his job performance and how his participation may have affected the investigation.
Trial is set for Jan. 26.