Soon after seizing fentanyl from DUI suspect, CHP officer died from ingesting the drug

Shortly after seizing fentanyl and administering Narcan to a DUI suspect experiencing a possible overdose, CHP Officer Miguel Cano started to feel unwell, swerved his patrol car into a tree and was killed. His sudden death left many questions unanswered.

Almost eight months later, one piece of the puzzle was revealed Monday — his cause of death was ruled an accident due to the effects of fentanyl, according to the L.A. County medical examiner.

But exactly how Cano ingested a lethal amount of fentanyl remains unclear, the California Highway Patrol said Wednesday, and it is reviewing the findings in the medial examiner’s report and continuing to investigate.

“We owe it to the family, our personnel and the public to get this right. We are committed to a complete and objective examination of the facts,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a statement. “Out of respect for those most affected, we will not engage in speculation or premature conclusions.”

Last July, in a news conference following Cano’s death, Duryee said investigators had ruled out possible exposure to drugs as a cause, noting that “the other officer and the subject did not experience any signs or symptoms related to that.”

At the time, the CHP said Cano and his partner had confiscated a firearm, possible cocaine and drug paraphernalia. On Wednesday, the agency revealed that subsequent testing found fentanyl in the drugs.

Fentanyl is an incredibly potent synthetic opioid that can be fatal in very small doses. However, a person cannot be killed simply by coming into contact with it.

“It is a common misconception that fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin, but it is not true for casual exposure,” according to Dr. Daniel Colby, co-medical director for the Department of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Health. “The one case in which fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin is with a special doctor-prescribed fentanyl skin patch, and even then, it takes hours of exposure.”

Colby said it is important for people to understand that fentanyl cannot be absorbed through contact, so that they are not fearful to intervene when witnessing an overdose.

“Pausing or waiting for other people to arrive means that person might die,” he said. “They need our help and it is safe to help them.”

Cano, a 34-year-old from Moreno Valley who graduated from the CHP academy in 2023, had administered Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses the effects of opioids, to a DUI suspect he feared was overdosing after a late-night traffic stop in Culver City. He took the suspect into custody with his partner, and the three were driving to the nearby West L.A. CHP office when he told his partner he didn’t feel well. Their vehicle went off the road and struck a tree. Cano was rushed to UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead around 1:40 a.m. The suspect and the other officer survived without severe injury.

At the time, the CHP said Cano suffered a medical emergency that caused the crash. It was the first line-of-duty death for the CHP since 2020. Gov. Gavin Newsom called it “a heartbreaking loss for the state and the California Highway Patrol.” Cano was survived by his wife and parents.

“We are devastated by the loss of Officer Cano, who gave his life while serving the people of California,” Duryee said at the time of Cano’s death. “His dedication, courage and commitment to public safety will never be forgotten.”

Times staff writer Jasmine Mendez contributed to this report.