California attorney general is aiding the investigation into Michael Jackson's death

California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown today told The Times that his office is helping the Los Angeles Police Department in its investigation of Michael Jackson's death.

The announcement comes a day after the Drug Enforcement Administration began helping Los Angeles authorities with the probe, which is focused in part on the prescription drugs found at the pop star's home.

Brown said state law enforcement officials are using the CURES (Controlled substance, Utilization Review and Evaluation System) to mine for data on prescription drugs that will be passed on to investigators with the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division.

The system contains the name of every doctor that prescribes controlled medicine, the person for whom the drug is prescribed, the quantity and the date, Brown said.

It was used to gather evidence in the recent probe of doctors in the Anna Nicole Smith case. Brown noted that the database had limitations and needs to be upgraded because of restrictions on cross-referencing data.

“We  are using it to probe for relevant information in the Jackson case,” Brown said. “If it’s about doctors, drugs and patients or anything that touches that, it’s in our database. We’ve been in touch with the LAPD and I’ve talked to Chief [William J.] Bratton.”

Brown noted that the LAPD is doing the investigation and that its findings would be turned over to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

Authorities removed prescription medications and two bags of "medical evidence" from the Holmby Hills home where the pop star was found dead June 25. Law enforcement sources told The Times that investigators also are interviewing doctors who treated Jackson and prescribed him medication.

It remains unknown whether prescription drugs played a role in Jackson's death. An autopsy performed Friday did not determine a cause of death, and the county coroner's office is awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

In March, Anna Nicole Smith's boyfriend and two of her doctors were charged with repeatedly supplying the former Playboy centerfold with addictive prescription drugs since 2004, nearly three years before she died of an overdose, authorities said.

The offices of the California attorney general and the Los Angeles County district attorney spearheaded the investigation of Smith's boyfriend and attorney, Howard Kevin Stern, 40, and doctors Sandeep Kapoor, 40, and Khristine Eroshevich, 61, who have been charged with conspiring to "commit the crimes of prescribing, administering and dispensing controlled substances to an addict" and "unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance."

—Andrew Blankstein

Comments

[Shea Dixon]

The first time I heard the 911 tape, it hit me immediately how calm the caller was -- as if there was nothing at stake, that Jackson had been dead for some time. He doesn't even sound desperate to get the ambulance to the house quickly; pretty much anytime will do. The caller also said the doctor was still doing CPR. Why?
Now we find out that Propofil is an anesthesia, that it must be monitored almost continuously so that the patient doesn't stop breathing, and that the remnants of Propofil pass through the system almost as quickly as they stop administering the drug. ---
Ok, SUPPOSE the doctor was administering Propofil, that he didn't check in regularly on Jackson, that he discovers that Michael has stopped breathing in the night, that his pulse stopped. Rather than call 911 immediately, the doctor wanted the drug to pass through the system -- and he had to remove evidence of the intravenous equipment. So, he did CPR for 15-30 minutes, knowing Jackson was dead, that the drug was disappearing. Thirty minutes to an hour later, they call 911. It seems as if the caller and the doctor both know Jackson is long gone.
We also know that the doctor did not ride with Jackson to the hospital. Why? Again, this may be because he knows there is no point.
However, the doctor demanded the ER keep doing CPR for another hour (!) after they arrive at the hospital. Why, if they all knew he was long gone?
Perhaps because by the time Jackson was pronounced dead, and a toxicology examination done by the coroner hours later -- the Propofil was long gone, and any evidence of malpractice by the doctor gone with it.
Questioning that caller is key to this investigation. Why was he so calm? Is he complicit, too? Is that call evidence of a cover-up by the doctor and the caller? Was the caller suppose to monitor Jackson?
-- And the doctor's excuse why he didn't call 911 doesn't ring true, either.
Kinda makes you go: Hmmmm .........

[John]

Here we go again the media shaping our opinions the medium is the message. They are going to sensationalize this whole thing.

John Garden Grove Ca.

[Charlotte Laws]

I so disagree with this.

[Jetta Raye]

I am really hurt by Michael Jackson passing and I think that everyone should respect his family by keeping there negative comments to themselves. I have seen Presidents screw up Governors screw up, alot of people in high places screw up and Michael Jackson death should be respected. I know bad things was said and done threw out his career but it doesnt mean that he wasnt a great artist and that his fame can not be taken away from him because he worked hard for that.He had childhood promblems and it affected him, just like abuse children,battered women and men. He was human and I will not forget that he was loved by alot of people and was the KING OF POP! what I love about Michael Jackson is this I havent seen or heard anybody that can beat him dancing. So all you haters out there do like Michael Jackson said in the pass JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE. BECAUSE HE WAS BAD. SO BEAT IT. LOVE YOU MICHAEL JACKSON. Jennipher