SATICOY : Overdose May Have Caused Man’s Death

It will be at least four weeks before toxicology tests officially determine what killed a 44-year-old Saticoy man believed to have overdosed on cocaine Wednesday.

William Orrante, who died moments after sheriff’s deputies took him to Ventura County Medical Center, showed no significant physical injuries, according to a report by Dr. Ronald Ohalloran, the county coroner’s chief medical examiner. Authorities say police did not use excessive force to restrain him.

The man, who deputies said was hallucinating and yelling incoherently in the patrol car, was bound at his ankles and wrists to keep him from kicking out the car window, said Lt. Joe Harwell of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Hospital personnel tried for about 30 minutes to revive Orrante, who stopped breathing about 12:30 a.m., he said.

Deputies answered an emergency call shortly after midnight from a woman who lived with Orrante at a house in the 11200 block of Nardo Street. The woman, Bernice Sustaita, said Orrante was out of control, wielding a knife and destroying the house, Harwell said.