Autopsy: Overdose caused death during police struggle

? An overdose of methamphetamine and cocaine killed a man who collapsed in a struggle with Kansas City police in July, an autopsy report revealed.

Christopher Henley, 43, of Lenexa, died from a cardiac event after officers handcuffed him July 16 in a rail yard for trespassing, according to Jackson County Deputy Medical Examiner Thomas Gill.

Henley’s heart, lungs and liver were abnormally large, Gill said.

Both Henley’s sister and former wife told police he had a 20-year history of drug abuse, according to police reports.

However, friends and relatives questioned whether police used excessive force, something the final autopsy report does not support.

Union Pacific Railroad employees called police in July to report a trespasser. When police arrived, Henley swung a punch at an officer, according a police investigation file obtained by The Kansas City Star. A second officer put his arm around Henley’s neck and warned Henley to stop resisting arrest, the file said.

Henley threatened police during the scuffle and minutes after the officers handcuffed Henley, he stopped breathing, the file said. Police removed the handcuffs and began CPR until an ambulance arrived, police said.

Witnesses told police they did not think the officers used excessive force.

An attorney retained by Henley’s relatives said he still had unanswered questions regarding the arrest.

“This was a man stopped for trespassing,” attorney Kevin Baldwin said. “What caused his heart to race? Was the application of force necessary?”