Man killed in police shooting near Dinosaur had meth in his blood, autopsy says


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CRAIG, Colorado — A Mississippi fugitive who was shot and killed by a police officer near the Utah-Colorado border earlier this month had high levels of methamphetamine in his system, according to an autopsy report.

At the time of his death, James Brent Damon's blood contained 1,000 nanograms per milliliter of methamphetamine and 86 ng/mL of amphetamine, forensic pathologist Dr. Robert A. Kurtzman wrote in his report to Moffat County Coroner Kirk McKey.

"Blood levels of 200 (to) 600 ng/mL have been reported in methamphetamine abusers who exhibited violent and irrational behavior," the pathologist's report states.

Moffat County Deputy Bhrent Shock and Colorado Parks and Wildlife district manager Nathan Martinez encountered Damon and his wife, 43-year-old Georgie Louise Hand, on March 9. The officers were investigating a trespassing report that involved a white Ford Explorer parked on private property north of U.S. 40 near Dinosaur, Colorado, authorities said.

The vehicle belonged to Damon and Hand, who were armed with a 9 mm handgun and a BB gun, according to investigators. The couple was able to disarm both officers and briefly take them hostage, detectives said.

Martinez later told investigators that he offered Damon his patrol vehicle and tossed his keys toward the man, hoping the couple would leave without harming the officers. Hand collected the keys and went to get the truck.

At that point, Martinez told detectives, Damon had the two officers on the side of the white Explorer that could not be seen from the highway. Martinez was sitting on the ground and Shock was kneeling.

"Officer Martinez knew they were going to die, but he wasn't going to die without a fight," investigators wrote. "Officer Martinez made the decision to get his own handgun back."


Blood levels of 200 (to) 600 ng/mL have been reported in methamphetamine abusers who exhibited violent and irrational behavior.

–Dr. Robert A. Kurtzman, forensic pathologist


During the ensuing struggle, Shock took Damon to the ground and Martinez regained control of his gun. Damon was now on top of Shock, and Martinez said he tried to fire a round, but his gun malfunctioned, court records state.

"Officer Martinez cleared the malfunction and was able to fire one round into the back of Damon's head, immediately incapacitating Damon," investigators wrote.

The autopsy showed that Damon died from a single gunshot wound to the head, and that death would have happened within "seconds to minutes." Damon's hands and head had "superficial abrasions and contusions" that were "consistent with a struggle," the report states.

After the shooting, Martinez took Hand into custody at gunpoint. A woman living near the scene of the shooting helped free Shock, whose right hand had been cuffed to his belt during the ordeal.

Hand is charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, disarming a peace officer, felony menacing, trespassing and possession of a weapon by a previous offender. She is being held in the Moffat County Jail on $1 million bail.

Damon and Hand were wanted by authorities in Utah, Colorado, Mississippi and Wyoming at the time of the shooting. Damon was also being sought by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for absconding from parole.

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Geoff Liesik

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