Death of Angelo Darcel

Death of Angelo Darcel Robinson-
Concord, North Carolina

Bulletin Vol. 1 No. 1 September 10, 1993
Zarc International, Inc.

Angelo Darcel Robinson, 24, died July 11, 1993 after officers with the Concord Police Department (North Carolina) sprayed him with First Strike, a pepper spray manufactured by Enviro-Pac International and distributed by Advance Defense Technologies, Charlotte, North Carolina. The autopsy concluded the cause of the death to be "asphyxia due to bronchospasm precipitated by pepper spray". Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Chapel Hill, NC, Report of Autopsy Examination, ME-93-658 (August 26, 1993) page 5.

The product used, First Strike, is a relatively new pepper spray that uses water and other ingredients as its aerosol carrier. The identities of the ingredients are listed as a Trade secret" and not disclosed in the product's Material Safety Data Sheet. First Strike is delivered in a liquid stream. The product has apparently been used in a limited geographic area during a short period of time.

Zarc International, Inc. ("ZARCâ "), the manufacturer of CAP-STUNâ , an Oleoresin Capsicum ("OC") product used safely by law enforcement for more than a decade, encourages the continuing investigations into the incident in Concord.

ZARC has received numerous inquiries about the Concord matter and safety of pepper sprays. In an effort to clarify and answer the questions, ZARC would like to point out the following general distinguishing factors that should be borne in mind as law enforcement compares and evaluates OC weaponry:

There are many variations of OC weaponry both as to the OC used and the other ingredients within the weapon. There are 20 species and more than 300 varieties of capsicum pepper.

Some pepper sprays-especially the ones using water as a carrying agent-do not use natural Oleoresin Capsicum. In some cases, the manufacturers boost the pungency (heat factor) of their OC product by adding synthetic and toxic compounds such as nvanillyl paaiperic acid . CAP-STUN uses a 100% naturally occurring OC and a unique proprietary blend of Capsaicinoids.

Three basic types of carriers are used in OC weapons: (1) water plus other ingredients, (2) refrigeration agents, and (3) isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Water requires an OC with lower heat range and additives. Refrigeration agents are not designed to be sprayed into an individual's face. Dupont, which makes refrigerants used in some OC's, recently issued a caution to its customers against the use of HCFC and Dymel 22 in pepper sprays. Isopropyl alcohol is safe as demonstrated through its common use in household and medical aerosols, particularly those intended to be sprayed in the facial area. CAP-STUN uses isopropyl alcohol and no other ingredients as its carrier and does not contain HCFC or Dymel-22. The various carriers are drastically different in toxicity, health impact, and delivery characteristics.

Not all pepper sprays use the same type of delivery systems. Some use a liquid stream, which presents a possibility that the stream can be ingested by the subject, adversely affecting the functioning of the digestive and respiratory/pulmonary organs. CAP-STUN uses a fine mist.

Pepper sprays differ in toxicity and health impact. Please take note: CAP-STUN has undergone extensive toxicological testing and has proven to present no potential danger to the human physiological system. For example:

In the "Acute Inhalation (LC50) Test" conducted, CAP-STUN was found non-toxic to test animals. The animals were exposed to inhalation concentrations of 56.3 mg/l, which is the highest concentration generated in the test system.

The "Primary Skin Irritation" test showed that CAP-STUN does not damage the skin.

The "Dermal Sensitization" test conducted in accordance with the Klingman Maximization Method showed that CAP-STUN is not a skin sensitizing or allergenic agent.

The "Eye Irritation" test showed that CAP-STUN does not cause eye damage.

Not all pepper sprays can claim the same credentials or history. CAP-STUN has been in widespread use for more than a decade. It is an established product used tens of thousands of times in virtually every field situation imaginable on a wide range of subject profiles. No long-term adverse health consequence has ever been caused by CAP-STUN.

In the August 30, 1993 statement accompanying the release of the aforementioned Report of Autopsy Examination, the Concord Police Department, Press Release (August 30, 1993) at Page 1, referred to a two-year study conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation: "This study reported that no ill effects or adverse reactions were experienced by 899 subjects who were exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum (pepper spray)."

It should be noted that only CAP-STUN was tested by the FBI during this study. Any product claiming to have been tested by the FBI, is misrepresenting itself and misleading the market. Because the Oleoresin Capsicum formulation used in CAP-STUN is the exclusive property of ZARC, no other pepper product can claim to use the same Capsaicinoids.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD DEMAND DOCUMENTATION AND INDEPENDENT LAB TEST RESULTS TO SUBSTANTIATE SUPPLIER CLAIMS. CLAIMS OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS SHOULD BE VERIFIED. ALL INGREDIENTS IN THE OC PRODUCT SHOULD BE DISCLOSED BY THE SUPPLIER AND VERIFIED BY THE BUYER. CLAIMS IN THE MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) SHOULD BE VERIFIED AND ALL SPECIFICATIONS SHOULD BE CHECKED. FIELD USE POLICY AND PROCEDURES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED CAREFULLY. PRODUCT TRACK RECORDS MUST BE REVIEWED CAREFULLY. PROPER TRAINING IS TMPERATTVE.

OC Less-than-Lethal Weaponry is a relatively new area to many law enforcement agencies and, understandably, can be a confusing subject. ZARC hopes that this statement will help law enforcement prudently evaluate OC weaponry and understand that not all OC products are alike. ZARC will continue to monitor information released by law enforcement regarding Angelo Robinson's death and will pass along the same upon request.