Sep
6
Cause of Death under Investigation
SANTA BARBARA, CA - 9/5/2006 - 9/5/06. Early Saturday morning, 9/2/06, at 3:25 a.m., police were called to a disturbance at the Spearmint Rhino Adult Cabaret at 22. E. Montecito Street. Officers found two security employees restraining a man on the walkway leading to the front doors. The man was observed to have difficulty breathing. Paramedics arrived, initiated CPR, and transported him to Cottage Hospital. He was admitted to the Critical Care Unit and placed on life support. His parents responded from his home-town of Petaluma. After consultation with neurologists, life support was discontinued and the man was pronounced dead. He is identified as David Klotz, age 26, of San Francisco.
Detectives responded to investigate the circumstances of the death. The preliminary findings are that Klotz was in town to celebrate a friend’s wedding. That evening, Klotz and some male friends were downtown drinking in different nightclubs. At approximately 1:30 a.m., the group entered Spearmint Rhino and watched the dancers perform. Soon after, Klotz went into a back room with a dancer to pay for private dances. Meanwhile, Klotz’s friends all left the club. 70 minutes later, the dancer told Klotz that the bill for the private dance session was $960. Klotz protested and tried to leave. He was detained by security personnel, who wanted him to settle the bill. A scuffle ensued in which Klotz tried to leave while security restrained him. Police were called. The security personnel and staff at the Spearmint Rhine have cooperated with the investigation. Employees gave detectives digital surveillance footage that includes portions of the scuffle incident.
The circumstances of how Klotz was restrained by security personnel and the cause of death remain under investigation. An autopsy examination was performed earlier today. The findings include that Klotz had pre-existing heart problems and his blood alcohol level was .19. There were no signs that Klotz was beaten or struck by security personnel. At present, the exact cause of death has not been determined pending further investigation and toxicological finding.