Alleged ‘ice’ smoker dies
while in police custody

A 41-year-old Makaha man, who a witness says was high on "ice," died in police custody yesterday morning.

Ross Hose was arrested at 84-018 Makau St. after police responded to a call reporting a disorderly man about 4 a.m.

"They were preparing to transport the male when he became unresponsive, and an ambulance was called," said police spokeswoman Michelle Yu.

An Emergency Medical Services supervisor said a 41-year-old man was unconscious when an ambulance crew arrived at 5:32 a.m. He was taken to Waianae Coast Comprehensive Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Honolulu Police Department's Internal Affairs unit is investigating, which is standard procedure when someone dies in police custody, Yu said. Police would not comment further.

Makaha resident Adeline Mercer said Hose was visiting her son, who told her that Hose had been smoking crystal methamphetamine. The two men are cousins.

"When I seen (Hose), he was a different person under that kind influence," she said.

Mercer said she was asleep when she heard her son's call for help from downstairs in their Makaha home.

Hose was trying to break things, she said.

"He wanted to throw the TV, but my son grabbed the TV," she said. Her son locked Hose out and called police, Mercer said.

When she went downstairs, a police officer was trying to calm Hose down. She said there was pepper spray on the garage wall, but did not see how it got there.

Hose is survived by his wife and four children, the youngest 6 years old, Mercer said.

She said Hose was abusive to his wife and the couple was separated, but "she's taking it hard."

Mercer's daughter, Jane Lincoln, said Hose recently moved into a nearby halfway house and started to visit her family.

Mercer said Hose and her sons played together as children.