Covering stories that affect the community actually involve knowing people, being out there and caring for those stories that are not headlines.
KutThroat Barber Lounge was a former advertiser. I still pursued this story. No one else has so far and it has been 6 days since the actual incident. It was still breaking news on Saturday and I immediately wrote about it as soon as I found out. I would have on Thursday or Friday but I was in court all day, both days. I wrote about it because it has affected my friends, me, my neighborhood.
Quinton is someone I knew and saw regularly in Old Town. He is important to many people, including me. His tragic death is important, whether drugs were found or not, because it is the loss of a life, a person loved by many and shows the havoc drugs have daily on this community.
It baffles me that there is no report to be located when a dead body is found in a local business in daylight and the death could be due to an alleged drug overdose.
Community members and neighboring businesses are still concerned why there was no report. I have still not heard back from the Coroner to confirm whether this was a death due to drug overdose.
There is a memorial this Sunday to honor him..
I was told that Quinton's partner, CeCi put these up outside KutThroat. It is still closed. There has been tension for a few months about "activity" around the business and people do not want this business reopened.
Rest in peace Quinton.
What actually happened was told to me over the last few days by a couple of anonymous sources. There are many versions of what happened on the scene before the medical personnel and police arrived and after.
Summary according to one bystander:
On Thursday, June 30, around 3:30, Quinton's partner CeCi showed up at KutThroat Barber Lounge, which is located in Opera Alley in Eureka. Quinton had not been at work for two hours and she was concerned. He often took his breaks and it was common knowledge where he went on those breaks.
Observers say a woman saw two men passed out on the floor in KutThroat Barber Lounge, the door was locked, she was screaming and crying. Nearby business and residents assisted. Eventually, Robert Blair, owner of KutThroat woke up and opened the door to the business. He "staggered out", another business owner tried to help him. The police arrived, locked the door where his dog was and cuffed him.
An effort by a citizen was made to give Quinton CPR. It was determined he was already dead. Broken rosary beads were on the floor, said another spectator, allegedly used to shoot up drugs.
The ambulance came and took Quinton away.
Update: I spoke with EPD Captain Steve Watson today and he did a quick search. There is no report associated with incident which could confirm if any drugs wete found at the location. Captain Watson said they are not allowed to release any medical information which is private. I do have unofficial, off the record information that Quinton died as a result of OD.
Jul 2, 2016
KutThroat Barber Lounge owner arrested for drunk in public, other allegations including drug overdose as reason for closure
There was a message on Blair's facebook page of a friend passing away and it is the same person mentioned by others passing away at the business. This was someone who lived and worked in Old Town. Very sad.
I have been unable to reach him since Thursday and have not heard back from him. He did call at 2:04 today, after this post, but did not leave a message.
I am in the process of verifying with EPD and the Coroner's office if this death was indeed due to a drug overdose in the business bathroom and if any drugs were discovered in the backroom of the business. The drug activity seems to be hearsay.
EPD Captain Brian Stephens is the only one around this weekend, while he had no knowledge of either, I will be checking with Captain Steve Watson and EPD officers covering that area and the Coroner on Tuesday, if I have not heard from them .
It is a weekend and a holiday weekend so reaching someone is challenging.
Some information is from neighboring businesses and people in the neighborhood, who prefer to remain anonymous, who saw sirens and an ambulance.
The business has been closed since Thursday. Chances are that it will not re-open at the location.
This is a really confusing storey..So the guy that got arrested was the owner and the guy that died worked there ?? I dont get it..Why did the police arrive and arrest him and shut the door with a dead guy inside??
ReplyDeleteYes, it is confusing because there is no official report, yet. The guy that got arrested was the owner, the guy who died did not work there, he was a friend of the owner.
DeleteI dont know when the ambulance arrived and removed Quinton but there was a dog in the shop and from what I have been told, they arrested the owner, cuffed him and while investigating, shut the door with the dog inside.
If there is an official report later, I will update.
Oh ok makes more since..I wounder if they knew he was in there when they shut the door? Is the guy still in jail? What happened to the dog?
ReplyDeleteGuy is not in jail. I have no other information, other than what is in this post.
DeleteHi John - Yesterday the second person I know died from an apparent overdose in Humboldt. Since I am not involved in those circles, this is really unusual. I heard third hand that the coroner said that there were 4 overdoses the same day Quinton died. I also heard there may be fentanyl mixed with heroin. Apparently, this is known to cause overdoses.
ReplyDeleteI have let the DHHS needle exchange folks know so they can ask around and warn people to be careful. (They also distribute the Narcan and Naloxone opiate overdose antidote for free - FYI.)
I am hoping you can look into this more and help get the word out.
I really wish DHHS or the police dept would do a press release.
It is so sad to lose these loved ones.
Thank you for all your hard work.
I agree. Thank you for the information and kind words.
ReplyDelete