3rd Greenwich Resident Charged in Connection with Overdose Death

Greenwich Time- Police arrested a third person Wednesday in connection with the overdose death of Riverside teenager Christopher Harris, who was found unresponsive at his Florence Road home in January 2011.

Christopher A. Lundell, 20, of 5 Wellington Place, Apt. A, turned himself in to Greenwich police on a warrant. He was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy to possess narcotics.



Lt. Kraig Gray, spokesman for the Greenwich Police Department, said police held a non-extraditable warrant for Lundell in connection with the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Harris, who was found Jan. 8, 2011.



Lundell recently returned from California, Gray said.



"An arrangement was made between his attorney and the state's attorney for him to turn himself in upon return, and he did so," Gray said.



Two other Greenwich residents, George C. Ramirez and William Nelson, turned themselves in to police in August in connection with the investigation. Ramirez was charged with distribution of a controlled substance and conspiracy to possess narcotics.



Nelson was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy to possess narcotics.



Nelson, Ramirez and Lundell were among a group of friends who went to Harris' home Jan. 7 to visit him because he was sick, according to the warrant for Ramirez's arrest.



Ramirez told police everyone except he and Harris were drinking that night and that the friends smoked marijuana, according to his arrest warrant.



During the night, Nelson and Ramirez drove to New York to buy the painkiller Opana, and Harris, Nelson and Ramirez all used Opana during the night, according to the warrant.



After being found unresponsive around 9 a.m. Jan. 8, Harris was transported to Stamford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.



Ramirez, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess narcotics, is scheduled to receive an eight-year prison term, suspended after two years, at his June 5 sentencing. He will also serve three years of probation following the prison term.



Nelson's case is still pending.



Lundell posted $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford June 13.



david.hennessey@scni.com; 203-625-4428

Greenwich Police Investigate Teen’s Death

Friends, family mourning loss of Riverside teen
A music lover with a big heart and lots of friends is how the parents of a Riverside teenager will always remember their son, who died unexpectedly over the weekend at age 18.

But for the moment, the family of Christopher Harris is just trying to come to terms with its devastating loss.

"It has been very difficult," said Christopher Harris Sr., the teen's father. "It was sudden and not expected. In our hearts, there is just a huge hole, and it will be a long time, if ever, to fill that hole."

Harris died Saturday after he was found unresponsive at his home on Florence Road around 9 a.m., prompting a response from paramedics and police. Harris was transported to Stamford Hospital shortly after medics rendered advanced life support, officials said. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Greenwich police said they are investigating the "untimely" death of the Riverside teenager.

An autopsy was performed Monday by the Office of the Chief State's Medical Examiner. Police said the cause of death is pending while they await the completion of toxicology tests.

"Preliminary investigation reveals that although Mr. Harris had some underlying medical issues it is likely that intoxicants were a contributing factor in his death," police said in a news release issued Monday afternoon.

Christopher Harris Sr. said it appeared to be a normal night at their home Friday, but he found his son in his bed and not breathing on Saturday morning. The father performed CPR until police and medics could take over.

"We don't really know what happened," Harris said. "He had been diagnosed with (mononucleosis) two days prior. At this point we don't know. He went to bed Friday night and everything seemed fine."

Mononucleosis is a viral infection causing fever, sore throat and swollen lymph glands, especially in the neck.

Harris' mother, Karen Harris, said while the past few days have been extremely difficult, the outpouring of support from family and friends -- especially on Facebook -- has held them up.

"I couldn't look at it at first," said Karen Harris of her son's Facebook page. "But I couldn't sleep, so I just finally got up 4 a.m. (Sunday), sat down in his room on his computer and saw 200, if not more, posts. It was overwhelming."

Harris graduated from Greenwich High School in 2010 and was a freshman at the University of New Haven, where he was studying music engineering in hopes of becoming a music producer. He had a studio at home and often made music, using influences from various genres.

"He loved writing music," his father said. "That was his passion."

Harris' mother said one of his biggest musical influences was the Dave Matthews Band, a group Christopher saw live nearly 80 times. He also played football and rugby.

Harris is the grandson of Griffith E. Harris, a three-term first selectman for the town from 1952 to 1958 who was heavily involved in the community throughout his life. The town's only public golf course is named in his honor. He died in 1998.

Christopher Harris was also a loving older brother to his sister Emily Harris, who is a sophomore at Greenwich High School, his parents said.

"You are my best friend," wrote Emily Harris on her brother's Facebook page. "I'll be strong for you and I know you will always watch over me. Everyone is going to love you up there. Don't stop laughing and loving."

In addition to being a devoted son and brother, Karen and Christopher Harris Sr. said they were also always amazed with how many different types of friends their son had.

"He had a very diverse group of friends in different circles," his father said, remembering how his son often hung out with athletes, musicians and everyone in between. "Chris was the centerpiece that glued those guys together."

Charlie Collins, 19, was one of Harris' close friends, who said he was shocked to hear about his friend's death.

"No one had a bad thing to say about him," said Collins, who is delaying his trip back to college in order to attend the funeral. "He was good at making light of any situation."

Collins described Harris as athletic and outgoing.

On Facebook, hundreds of friends described what Harris meant to them.

"Greenwich just lost the most kind hearted, sincere person it had," read one posting by Jessica Stahl.

"I have so many great memories and miss u so much," read another post by Andrew Coffey. "(You) were the best friend anyone could ask for and u loved and cared about everyone."

Calling hours for the family will be from noon and 3 p.m. and 5 and 9 p.m. Friday at Leo P. Gallagher & Sons on Arch Street. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich.

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NBC Connecticut- Greenwich police are investigating the untimely death of a teen.

Police responded to 4 Florence Road at 9:22 a.m. on Saturday after receiving a report about an unresponsive 18-year-old man and found Christopher Harris unconscious and unresponsive, police said.

Emergency crews started rendering aid and Harris was transported to Stamford Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has performed an autopsy and the cause of death is pending the completion of toxicology analysis.

Police said the preliminary investigation reveals that Harris had some underlying medical issues, but it is likely that intoxicants were a contributing factor in his death.

The Greenwich Police Detective Division is investigating a criminal investigation.

Family Files $25 Million Claim over Deputy's Tackle

SEATTLE --- The family of an innocent man rendered comatose when a sheriff's deputy slammed into him, sending him headfirst into a tile wall in downtown Seattle, filed a $25 million claim Tuesday against the county.

The claim brought by the wife and parents of Christopher Harris, 29, of Edmonds, "will likely be followed by a lawsuit" unless it is resolved within 60 days, said Simeon J. Osborn, a lawyer who filed it with the county's Risk Management Division.

"He is in a coma, has irreversible brain damage, and will never recover," Osborn wrote in the claim. "He cannot walk, talk, recognize his family, or engage in the activities of daily living."

Medical bills are approaching $1 million and the cost of 24-hour care will run into the millions, Osborn said at a news conference.

Harris has been in a "vigil coma" since taking a hit from Deputy Matthew Paul, 26, who outweighed him by 100 pounds, early on May 10. Surveillance video from the Cinerama movie theater showed Matthews racing toward Paul, who appeared to have stopped with his arms outspread, and of giving him a shove that knocked the smaller man eight feet and through the air into the base of the wall.

The claim, which lists 24 witnesses, is based on sheriff's office training, policies and procedures, as well as on the conduct of Paul and Deputy Joseph Eshom, 28, during the chase.

Last month county prosecutors declined to file charges against Paul, saying there was no legal basis for a criminal charge.

At a news conference Tuesday, Sim Osborn, an attorney for the Harris family, called the deputy's actions "inexcusably brutal."

"The graphic video still haunts the harris family, and is a glaring look at the brutal actions by the sheriff's deputy," Osborn said.

King County sheriff spokesman John Urquhart said the sheriff's office could not comment directly on the legal claim, but maintains that the deputy did not indent to injure Harris.

Urquhart called the incident a tragedy for Harris, his family and the deputy. He said the deputy's actions were justifiable because witnesses identified Harris as a suspect in an assault.

Witnesses said the incident began when several men, some covered in blood, ran into a convenience store where Harris had been shopping. Deputies chasing down the suspect were mistakenly told by witnesses that Harris was the man they wanted. Harris had not been in the fight, but he ran.

The surveillance video shows the end of the chase as moviegoers are exiting from the Cinerama theater, about 2½ blocks from where the chase began.

Harris comes into view, makes a slight turn and slows down as Paul gives him a fierce shove, knocking him off his feet. Harris' head slams into the base of a tiled wall outside the movie house.

Two witnesses say Harris seemed to be stopping and said, "I don't have anything, I didn't steal anything," just before he was hit by Paul, who weighs about 270 pounds, about 100 pounds more than Harris.

But Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for the King County Prosecutor's office, said last month that since Christopher Harris was identified by witnesses to officers as a suspect in a violent crime, "The law provides that an officer 'shall not be held criminally liable for using force without malice and with a good faith belief that such act is justifiable."

"He ran for several blocks after he was told to stop by uniformed officers. As the deputy caught up to him, the deputy used a standard take down procedure. As a result, no criminal charge can be filed."

Sara Jorgenson, Harris' wife of two years and constant companion since they became high school sweethearts 13 years ago, told reporters her husband was not the type to flee from police.

"He wouldn't have ran," she said. "He didn't know who was chasing him."

Harris, now housed in a congregant care center, breathes entirely on his own and sometimes opens his eyes but cannot focus, talk or otherwise communicate, a condition from which doctors believe he will never recover, Osborn said.

"It's not hospice care," he lawyer added. "He's not dying."

Jorgenson said she had quit work to be at his side daily and hoped eventually to be able to bring him home.

"I sit next to the bed all day. I talk to him. I read to him," Jorgenson said, dabbing the corner of her eyes with a tissue. "I make sure that he's getting taken care of ... anything that you can do."