25-I considered deadly

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - FOX10 is learning more about the substance found in Gil Collar’s system the night he was shot and killed by a University of South Alabama police officer.

Toxicology reports revealed Collar was high on marijuana and also ingested a highly-potent and rare chemical known as 25-I.

“He took two tiny hits of the 25-I on blotter paper, 2/9ths the size of a postage stamp and stuck them in his mouth and his behavior changed drastically,” said District Attorney Ashley Rich.

Collar was shot after surveillance video showed he was acting erratically and charged at USA Campus Police Officer Trevis Austin, while in the nude.   

Ashleigh Simon, clinical director of ‘The Bridge,’ a youth drug treatment facility, said Collar’s behavior that night is typical with someone who has taken 25-I. She said they are seeing more and more young people trying this dangerous drug.

“PCP was more prior to the 80s. Ecstasy is more recent in the 90s, and this, it sounds like is going to be the new one,” Simon said.

She said 25-I is an experimental drug used in studies to treat depression and schizophrenia. According to Simon, however, taken in its purest form, the effects of ingesting 25-I are similar to LSD but worse.

“Scattered communication and distorted thinking,” Simon said. “Seizures and death (are reactions.) Panic, fear, paranoia; whereas LSD was more of what you would consider ‘the trip’ … an alternate type of reality.”

The district attorney’s office also announced that a grand jury has cleared Officer Austin of any criminal wrong-doing.

The civil suit against him, however, continues.

The Collar family said the officer used deadly force and did not follow procedure.

“People take drugs all the time, either knowingly or unknowingly,” said Attorney Ben Locklar. “That's not a license for them to die.”

Investigators said they have identified the person who sold Collar the drugs.

Officials said they can't peruse charges because 25-I is not legally considered a controlled substance in the State of Alabama.