The results of an autopsy performed on 41-year-old Paul Palmquist, who was shot to death by police during a violent confrontation on April 23, showed that his blood alcohol level was ”far below” the .10 percent at which a person is considered legally intoxicated, according to Dr. Tae An, a pathologist with the Cook County medical examiner`s office.
An said toxicology studies showed that Palmquist`s blood alcohol level was .04 percent, ”only a very small amount.” No drugs were found in Palmquist`s system, An said.
Palmquist, who according to neighbors was alcoholic and had often threatend to commit suicide, was swinging a 3-foot piece of pipe at two officers in his driveway at 310 Miner St. when he was shot 10 times by Sgt. Mark Selvik.
A few hours earlier Palmquist had been arrested by Itasca police on charges of drunken driving. He failed field sobriety tests but refused to take a breath test.
