Asphyxia, cocaine cited in death at Sea-Tac airport

A woman who died in October at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after police detained her for having drug paraphernalia succumbed to acute cocaine intoxication and asphyxia, the King County medical examiner has determined.

An autopsy revealed that Desseria B. Whitmore, 52, suffocated while trying to swallow a plastic bag of cocaine and ingested a lethal dose of the drug, a spokesman for the examiner's office said.

Her death was listed as accidental.

Port of Seattle police say the results support their conclusion that officers acted properly while detaining Whitmore, who was an assistant vice president at Bank of America in Seattle.

"It's just an unfortunate set of circumstances associated with her activities," said John Batiste, deputy chief of police for the Port.

The case will be turned over to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which will decide whether to recommend a formal inquest into Whitmore's death.

According to police, Whitmore tried to evade police after airport screeners found a drug pipe in her carry-on luggage Oct. 25. Then, in a panic, she tried to swallow a bag of drugs, began suffocating, and paramedics were unable to revive her, police said.

Whitmore's traveling companion has disputed the authorities' account. The friend, who has spoken publicly on condition of anonymity, said he never saw Whitmore try to walk away from police or swallow anything.

Whitmore's death and the circumstances surrounding it bewildered many who knew her. She had worked in banking for 27 years and had been honored for her volunteer work with the YMCA of Greater Seattle's Black Achievers program. She was the daughter of a Baptist minister and had no criminal record.

Whitmore and her friend were headed for a flight to Spokane when federal screeners found the drug pipe. They had Whitmore sit near the checkpoint while they called Port police. The friend said Whitmore was upset at being arrested but remained seated, resigned to the fact that she had been caught.

The friend said that when the first Port officer arrived and spoke to Whitmore, she turned her head. The officer then reached for her arm, the friend said, and Whitmore "jerked it away."

"That's when he threw her down," the friend said.

Police don't dispute that the officer pinned Whitmore to the floor in an attempt to handcuff her, even pulling out his electric stun gun at one point. But he did so only after she twice tried to flee and then tried to swallow something, police said.

Batiste said several witnesses who were at the scene support the department's account.

Though there are cameras throughout the D concourse where the incident occurred, police say they're not yet operating.

Whitmore's sister, Bernadine Anderson, said the family planned to discuss whether to pursue action against the Police Department.

Batiste said the department has fully investigated the incident and determined the officers followed correct procedures.

"We express our condolences to Mrs. Whitmore's family and loved ones," he said. "Though we feel our officers did everything right, we still feel remorse."

Ray Rivera: 206-464-2926 or rayrivera@seattletimes.com