Date: Fri 21-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Harlan-Allison-death-vet-teen

Full Text:

Police Continue Investigation Of Teen's Death At Vet's Office

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Police are investigating the untimely death of a local boy who was found

unconscious Sunday night at his place of work, Mt Pleasant Hospital For

Animals on Mt Pleasant Road in Hawleyville.

Police spokesman Detective Robert Tvardzik said police are treating the death

of Harlan Allison, 16, of Farrell Road, Hawleyville, as an untimely accidental

death.

Police suspect that Allison's system accidentally absorbed an amount of the

substance known as halothane, a potent liquified anesthetic used for surgery

on animals, according to the detective. It's unclear how the substance entered

Allison's body, he said. Halothane is volatile, but non-explosive. It is mixed

with air when administered in a vaporized form to animals undergoing surgery.

The results of an autopsy on Allison's body conducted July 17 were

inconclusive. Police are awaiting the results of state toxicology testing

which should help them learn specifically what substance caused Allison's

death, how much of the substance entered his system, and how it entered his

body, the detective noted.

Harlan Allison had been working at the animal hospital on July 16 taking care

of dogs in the kennels. When his friends realized he was overdue for planned

social activities, they sought him out at the veterinary office, Det Tvardzik

said. A friend found him leaning over a sink in an area used for animal

surgery.

The halothane anesthetic substance is caustic, according to the detective.

Caustic chemicals are corrosive in nature and are capable of destroying or

eating away human tissue through their chemical action.

Halothane isn't designated as a controlled substance and thus isn't required

to be kept under lock and key.

Police and emergency medical technicians went to the animal hospital at about

9:10 pm after receiving an emergency call alerting them that Harlan Allison

had been found there.

The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported the youth to Danbury

Hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

Det Tvardzik declined to comment on how the halothane was stored at the animal

hospital or how Allison might have gained access to it.

As the investigation into the case proceeds, police will talk to people

connected with the incident, explore various scenarios concerning Allison's

death, and await the state toxicology reports for a chemical explanation of

what happened to the youth, according to Det Tvardzik.

The results of the toxicology testing may shed new light on the circumstances

of the youth's death, he said. The test results are expected to be submitted

to police in four to six weeks.

Dr Brian Silverlieb, the veterinarian who operates the animal hospital, was

unavailable for comment.

Remembered By Friends

Harlan Allison would have been a junior at Newtown High School this fall.

While a student there for the past two years, he had participated in sports

including cross country running and had become known as a student athlete.

This week his coach, teammates and friends remembered him as a positive

influence in their lives.

Newtown High School Cross Country coach Richard Pesce remembered Harlan as a

promising athlete who had been plagued by injuries. He remained upbeat, and

always contributed to the team, according to the coach.

"Harlan would work very hard and try to work through injuries to reach his

full potential. He wanted very much to be part of the success of the team, not

wanting nagging injuries to hold him back."

Harlan suffered a hip injury towards the end of the cross country season

during his sophomore year, holding him from state competition.

"Harlan was a very easy person to understand and didn't try to be different

than he was," said Mike Giarrantano, a friend and cross country teammate. "He

had pride in himself and was a friend to everyone. He saw a lot of joy and

excitement in life. He did things because he enjoyed them not because he had

to. He had a lot of respect for himself."

James Enders, who along with Mike Giarrantano, ran with Harlan during the

cross country season. "We all started off our freshman year and clicked

together. We made a good team. We talked about making it to senior year and

being captains of the team. We were the three musketeers."

Senior co-captain of the girls team Marnie Larabee knew Harlan only through

running. "He was definately dedicated to running and was full of life, always

wanting to do his best. He was a lot of fun to be around, too."

Kara Mulholland also ran on the girls team, and she knew Harlan from the Ski

Club and the cross country team. "I remember he was a beginner skier, but

wanted to do the best he could. He would tackle something and make it fun,

even though it was difficult. He had a happy attitude acout it even when he

didn't do well. While running, he was always cracking jokes and was happy."