NORTH ANDOVER — State police and the state medical examiner's office are investigating the cause of death of a Worcester man who died in police custody on Thanksgiving.
The medical examiner's office will conduct further tests and await toxicology results to determine why Kenneth Howe, 45, of 1 Hartshorne Ave., died, according to Stephen O'Connell, spokesman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.
State police will also be interviewing witnesses, including Eagle-Tribune photographer Carl Russo, who took pictures of Howe's arrest in front of the offices of The Eagle-Tribune. Russo is expected to be interviewed by state police this week, and The Eagle-Tribune has posted all of the pictures that he took here.
"We're interviewing any and all witnesses in this matter," O'Connell said. The investigation is being headed up by state police Detective Lt. Norman Zuk and Lt. Steven McDonald.
Howe was a passenger in a car that was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint on Route 114 just before midnight on Wednesday, O'Connell said. Howe fled from the vehicle and struck a police officer after being asked to step out of the car because he was making "furtive" movements, he said.
Police subdued Howe on the front lawn of The Eagle-Tribune after a short foot chase, O'Connell said. He was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a police officer.
While being booked at the Andover state police barracks, Howe slumped over, was unresponsive and was transported to Lawrence General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m. Thursday, O'Connell said.
Police said they found 15 milligrams of Oxycodone on Howe. O'Connell said last night that investigators have determined that the drug was legally prescribed.
According to police, another person in the car said Howe was attempting to extinguish a marijuana cigarette shortly before the vehicle was stopped. O'Connell said the men told police they were in the Merrimack Valley to buy a boat. Police originally said Howe was from Webster, but said last night that he was actually from Worcester.
The checkpoint was manned by state and North Andover police and the Essex County Sheriff's Department.
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