ENTERTAINMENT
Arrests made in death of actor Matthew Perry: Who was arrested for delivering ketamine to the actor?
It has been reported that arrests have been made as a result of Perry’s death in October.
Arrests have reportedly been made in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, who died at the age of 54 late last year.
Perry, best known for his portrayal of the wise-cracking Chandler on the NBC sitcom Friends, was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his home in Los Angeles, California, in October.
Perry died of “acute effects of ketamine”
In the wake of Perry’s death, an autopsy report by the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said he had died as a result of the “acute effects of ketamine”.
Ketamine wasn’t from therapy Perry was receiving
Perry had been taking a ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety, with his last use of the therapy coming about a week and a half before his death. However, the Department of Medical Examiner added that the ketamine found in his body after he died "could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine’s half-life is three to four hours, or less”.
Earlier this year, it emerged that a criminal investigation was underway to find out who supplied Perry with the non-prescribed ketamine found in his body - and TMZ today broke the news on Thursday morning that “multiple arrests” were made, with at least one doctor among those detained with the New York Times later revealing that charges have been filed against two individuals in the case with both Jasveen Sangha (aka the Ketamine Queen) and Dr. Salvador Plasencia charged with furnishing Perry with a supply of the drug.
“Multiple law enforcement agencies have executed search warrants and seized computers, phones and other electronic equipment to determine who supplied Perry with the ketamine,” the media outlet said on Thursday.
ABC News has added that the arrests took place early this morning, with federal charges to be announced later today, at a press conference featuring the US attorney for Los Angeles and the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a drug that is used medically as a short-term anaesthetic on humans and animals, and as a treatment for depression.
Known as a ‘dissociative anaesthetic hallucinogen’, it is also taken as a recreational drug, by being injected, snorted, drunk or smoked. Per the US Drug Enforcement Agency, ketamine “distorts perceptions of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control”.
According to the Department of Medical Examiner, Perry had such high levels of ketamine in his body that they were the equivalent to the amount used for general anaesthesia during surgery.