IRVING, Texas (Sept. 28, 2006) -- Dallas police have classified Terrell Owens' case as an "accidental overdose," not an attempted suicide, closing their investigation of the Cowboys receiver's hospitalization.
Dallas police chief David Kunkle said he has "great confidence in the original officer report," which said rescue workers were called to the scene because of an attempted "suicide by prescription pain medication." The police document also said a friend described Owens as being depressed and that Owens said "Yes" when asked whether he was trying to harm himself.
"The report in my opinion reflects what the officers were told and represents their best interpretation of what happened," Kunkle said at a news conference. "But that doesn't mean it's the definitive account of the incident. Like all these situations, we're dealing with incomplete information and facts that change."
Owens said he mistakenly mixed the painkillers for a broken hand with supplements he ordinarily takes, causing him to become groggy while at home Tuesday evening. His publicist, Kim Etheredge, was with him and didn't like what she saw, especially when she also discovered an empty bottle of pills. She called 911, and Owens was taken by ambulance to an emergency room.
Within two hours of his hospital release, Owens was catching passes at team headquarters. He went through a full practice, his first since breaking his right hand on Sept. 17, and might play in Tennessee.
At a news conference, Owens denied the strongest parts of the police report, which was obtained by media outlets before most details were blacked out in the formal release. Etheredge lashed out at authorities, saying, "I am just upset that I just feel they take advantage of Terrell. Had this been someone else, this may not have happened."
Earlier on Sept. 28, the president of the Dallas Police Association, which represents Dallas police officers, demanded an apology from T.O. and his publicist.
"The officers reacted because they were called to this location to do this job. Now they're being put under a microscope by some fancy little football person," Senior Cpl. Glenn White said. "Give me a break. Those officers are 10 times better than this man. ... We police officers don't go out to these calls and make stuff up."
Kunkle said at his news conference that Owens and Etheredge were welcome to file a report against the officers if they believe anyone acted inappropriately.
"There's no reason for the officers to do anything inappropriate," he added.
Etheredge could not immediately be reached for a response. The voice mail on her cell phone was full, and she did not respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press.
