Police Say Lane Garrison Had Alcohol, Cocaine In System

Beverly Hills police said yesterday that "Prison Break" star Lane Garrison ("Tweener") should be charged with gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs for a car crash that killed a 17-year old passenger and injured two others.

Police Chief David L. Snowden said investigators have also asked county prosecutors to charge Garrison with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Investigators recommended that the DUI allegation carry the enhancement of having a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 percent or more. An adult driver in California is legally at the point of intoxication at 0.08 percent.

Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney, said that the police report was under review, but that no decision had been made on whether to file charges.

Garrison's Land Rover jumped a curb and struck a tree Dec. 2, killing 17-year-old Beverly Hills High School student Vahaghn Setian and injuring two 15-year-old girls also in the vehicle.

Garrison suffered minor injuries.

Garrison's attorney, Harland Braun, said the police decision to announce details of the investigation before charges have been filed was "a totally irresponsible thing."

"It was basically a public trial ... designed to influence potential jurors," Braun said.

Braun said he had not yet seen any of the evidence or police reports on the investigation.

Snowden said Garrison had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20 percent.

After the crash, police said, the actor volunteered to submit a blood sample, and analysis of it found he also had cocaine in his system.

Police were waiting to hear from the district attorney's office before making an arrest.

If charged and convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter, Garrison, a Dallas native who played "Tweener" on the Fox drama, could face up to 10 years in prison.

Braun has said previously that Garrison met the youths at a grocery store and accompanied them to a party, where he had one drink.

He told the Los Angeles Times that Garrison didn't remember anything about the accident after waking up in a hospital.

Snowden alleged that Garrison gave alcohol to the teens more than once that evening.

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