Gay Porn Star Dustin Michaels Chokes To Death In Police Custody

Posted December 13, 2009 8:06 AM by

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**UPDATE #1** Extremely disturbing video of Dustin’s fatal struggle with police has been released.

**UPDATE #2** According to Dustin’s Twitter: He smoked a lot of weed.

We’re sad to note that porn star Dustin Michaels (given name Andrew Grande) died in police custody this weekend while allegedly attempting to swallow a bag of weed.

Police had responded to a domestic disturbance call at his home in Panama City, FL. While attempting to handcuff him, Michaels swallowed the baggie and began choking. The police tasered him before administering the Heimlich Maneuver. A camera crew from Tru TV happened to filming the incident for a COPS-style reality TV show.

The laid-back and handsome, the openly gay and self-described “country bumpkin'” worked with a variety of amateur sites like OnTheHunt (I met him briefly on the Vegas shoot for the Manhunt porn site and he was nice enough to smoke me out) and CircleJerkBoys but is perhaps best known for his performances in Kink.com’s NakedKombat and Bound Gods sites.

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As of this morning, police have been unable to contact Michaels’ family. His best friend (and sometime scene partner), Austin Grant (pictured wtih Michaels) has asked us to help spread the word to his porn family. It’s terrible stuff all around.

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Here’s a photo Michaels posted on Twitter last week but later deleted:

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On a more personal note, here’s a picture of Michaels with Sister Roma on the set of his OnTheHunt shoot. He gets interviewed by Roma at roughly the half-way mark of this episode.

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Related:
Suspect Dies in BCSO Custody (PanamaCityNews.com)
Tim and Roma Go On the Hunt

Mike

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No responses to Gay Porn Star Dustin Michaels Chokes To Death In Police Custody

  1. Eric December 13th, 2009 at 8:55 AM

    … I take issue is “chokes to death while in police custody”. I thought I was going to read where the police choked him to death or something. Lets be objective here. The subject’s foolish actions led to his own death. The police had nothing to do with it. Any bag of weed that can fit inside your mouth is not going to cost you that much jail time if any. This guy acted foolishly and then put it upon the police to try to save him which they did try. I can already hear the police haters on this one. The correct title of this story should have been “Online gay performer tries to obstruct police while he chokes to death on drugs he tried to hide as police tried to save him”

  2. Bocodo December 13th, 2009 at 9:30 AM

    Another senseless death of a clearly disturbed person.

  3. caveh December 13th, 2009 at 11:25 AM

    He’s just a kid. RIP.

  4. Mark December 13th, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    The police should not be going after people for victimless crimes. I do blame the police. And don’t give me that “they are just doing their jobs” bullshit.

  5. Chris December 13th, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    You wre not there Mark. It is unclear what the police interest in him was. Suspects sometimes try to eat drugs all the time when they are arrested for other crimes. Maybe it was for a violent crime, we dont know. I just love how people hate the police until they need them. He caused his own death but somehow, othere always want to blame someone else.

  6. Anonymous December 13th, 2009 at 1:45 PM

    The kid obviously liked his weed; this probably wasn’t the first time he was arrested for Pot which is why he was freaking out about them finding it.

    It’s especially sad since pot is legal in parts of this country.

    What’s even sadder is that gay men are coming to a blog called “gaypornblog” and casting judgment against this poor, sad boy and his tragic demise and not the fucking pig cops who took part in murdering him.

  7. Tyler December 13th, 2009 at 3:00 PM

    I never post here but the people attacking the police in their comments obviously have not seen the video.

    http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/79110497.html

  8. jack December 13th, 2009 at 3:28 PM

    Thanks, Tyler — I added that link to the post.

  9. Anonymous December 13th, 2009 at 3:48 PM

    Tyler, I just watched the clip and am failing to see how this shows the Police are innocent? They have blood on their hands.

  10. Mike December 13th, 2009 at 4:17 PM

    I knew Andrew. It was really hard watching the video and I now regret doing so. The cops didn’t need to taser him. The protocal for tasering someone is very clear and it’s only in desperate situations. They had three police officers there and he had no weapons. And why couldn’t they clear his airway. I was an EMT those cops obviously didn’t know the first thing about clearing an airway!! NOT GOOD COPS, BAD COPS!!!

  11. Derek December 13th, 2009 at 4:52 PM

    The video clearly states that he was resisting arrest for pushing a female and that was why the police were trying to detain him. He then ingested the weed and choked on the bag. I’m sad that someone so young ultimately committed suicide, but it’s not the police’s fault, when Andrew himself did not comply with their orders.

  12. Jay December 14th, 2009 at 12:03 AM

    I know I’m the worst person in the world but watching him wrestling the police I couldn’t get his fight with Jason Miller in Naked Kombat out of my head

  13. Peter December 14th, 2009 at 3:45 AM

    Yes Jay, you are the worst person inthe world.

  14. Doktor December 14th, 2009 at 4:46 AM

    This is from India and is in no way critical of any of the comments furnished above.. but, being a doctor and after watching that disturbing video, I can only conclude that he probably choked from the foreign body only because he was tasered while attempting to swallow the same.. If the police did know that the victim had something in his mouth before tasering him, then it does border on criminal.. In either case its such a waste of a beautiful beautiful man..

  15. Alan December 14th, 2009 at 6:20 AM

    To my mind, the video doesn’t really prove anything one way or the other since it only begins AFTER a physical confrontation had already begun. For instance, we have no idea (other than statements) about what the situation was like when the officers arrived. Also lost are whatever non-physical tactics the officers (may have) used when initiating the arrest. At the point the video begins, the snowball is already halfway down the mountainside…

    It’s too easy for us to sit back in our chairs and watch the video and say “Oh Dustin shouldn’t have swallowed the bag and should have submitted to the arrest quietly” or “Oh the officers deployed the taser much too quickly”. Sorry, but when you’re in the middle of a situation like that and the adrenaline is pumping, rational decision-making all too often goes straight out the window – it’s part of being human.

    My heart goes out to Dustin/Andrew’s friends and family. Losing a loved one at such an age, with their whole life ahead of them is tough enough. But to see the final moments played out on video complete with attendant comments from the ‘peanut gallery’ is truly horrific…

  16. Cody December 14th, 2009 at 9:43 AM

    Let’s pause. Andrew died because of a tragic confluence of unfortunate events in which no one is to blame … in other words, an accident.

    Both Andrew and the police were acting reasonably given the circumstances: Andrew wanted to avoid incarceration for a victimless crime by swallowing the pot; the police were incapacitating a subject with technology that is non-lethal under ordinary conditions.

    Sometimes bad things happen and no one is to blame. The thoughts and energy bashing the police and Andrew can be better spent elsewhere.

  17. Mike December 14th, 2009 at 10:32 AM

    The case against the police is something all too common. The unnecessary use of the taser. They were being lazy, and were not paying attention. I think the parents should sue. Yes, tax payers will end up paying in the end but its only way real change will happen. Too many innocent people die from tasers. Now it someone you know.

  18. Anonymous December 14th, 2009 at 11:42 AM

    A taser? Isn’t that a little much?

    Why not pull out a gun and start shooting? Insanity.

  19. cls December 14th, 2009 at 12:22 PM

    If you think drugs are bad, notice the war on drugs is far worse. Drug warriors are more deadly and dangerous than any drug on the planet. And drugs only effect people who use them. Drug warriors, however, kill the innocent due to their own lack of intelligence. Hundreds of people, uninvolved with drugs, have been killed by gung-ho drug cops who screwed up yet again. I don’t like drugs at all, not even pot. But I hate the drug warriors.

  20. Jay December 14th, 2009 at 1:14 PM

    Cody you’re an absolute idiot. There’s nothing accidental about assaulting a woman, deliberately swallowing a bag of weed and then resisting arrest. He died because he was a stupid drug addict and the world is a much better place without him.

  21. Fr Ken Woodie December 14th, 2009 at 1:16 PM

    Just goes to show you, the most dangerous thing about marijuana is getting caught with it.

  22. JohnInL.A. December 14th, 2009 at 2:48 PM

    When police stop you for ANY reason, do NOT resist arrest.

    Resisting arrest forces police to take physical action to subdue the suspect.

    It’s as simple as that.

  23. mr. Pam December 14th, 2009 at 2:56 PM

    I AM SO SAD FOR DUSTIN AND FOR ALL HIS FRIENDS, FAMILY, GIOVANNI SUMMERS AND MANY MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO’S LIVES HE TOUCHED.

    You all are in my heart & sending all the love and hugs to you in the difficult time.

    I had been emailing with Dustin about possibly working together and I’m sad I never got to meet him in person. He seems like a super cool, cute boy & sweetie.
    We lost 2 beautiful boys in the past few days, Dustin Michaels & Todd Welch. wow…its a hard time.

    HUGS TO ALL WHO ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW!

    love… your fan…
    mr. Pam

    Legalize Marijuana in honor of Dustin please!

  24. Matty December 14th, 2009 at 4:38 PM

    This so didn’t need to happen. Stupid to have pot be illegal. Stupid to try and shove something down your throat. Stupid to taser a kid when there’s 3 cops to 1 kid… Just stupid all around…

  25. FockinMeen December 14th, 2009 at 4:38 PM

    So many words for someone so insignificant ..

    Who gives a fuck? Well, obviously al of you.

    THAT’S the sad part.

  26. Anonymous December 14th, 2009 at 5:15 PM

    This shit pisses me off…who in the hell do these coppers think they are? The boy is trying his best to cooperate and trying to help himself, in the meantime these idiots are pushing force on him…CRAZY.3 cops…one guy!

  27. Rob December 14th, 2009 at 7:13 PM

    Definitely a very sad story, but come on folks, legalize marijuana because someone got caught with it and shoved it down his throat? How about teaching young people to be responsible, and to accept the consequences for your actions? The truly sad part of this story is that Dustin did something incredibly stupid and paid the ultimate price.

  28. Mike December 14th, 2009 at 9:14 PM

    FockinMeen, if you ever read this (which I hope you do) I want you to go look in the mirror and tell yourself how much of a horrible excuse for a human being you are. Seriously dude, people are grieving, and you write stuff like that. How do you live with yourself?

  29. Marrow December 14th, 2009 at 11:15 PM

    Very sad, the guy was 23. And no matter what he did, HE’S DEAD AT 23! And after seeing the video…I’m speechless. I’m reading some of these comments and I’m sorta disgusted how heartless some of you are. Someone dies and you’re ready to chew him up? Grow a heart you Grinches! I’ve never even seen any of his vids and I feel bad! He was a divine specimen and his death brings up alot of issues. Why isn’t pot legal already? Alcohol kills people on an hourly basis. You smoke pot and you either get hungry or you don’t wanna do anything! Why did the cops seem more interested in arresting him instead of trying to get out the drugs he ingested? Is it just me or did that video from Florida News seem a little edited? R.I.P Dustin, I wish I knew about you under better circumstances. -Marrow

  30. Idiots December 15th, 2009 at 6:51 PM

    Why do any of you morons think that your comments actually mean anything?

    Losers.

  31. Doktor December 15th, 2009 at 9:40 PM

    So many of you are just heartless.. That video is about a man DYING.. Its not a movie.. It isnt play acting.. You are watching a man choke to death.. And that so many of you think his death is justified because he smoked pot is just WRONG!.. I wonder if you would share the same sentiments if a vegetarian made the same while you are wolfing down a burger..

  32. Anonymous December 16th, 2009 at 8:02 AM

    ‘Doktor’ I wouldn’t put the burger in a plastic bag and try to swallow it all at once, that’d be retarded : )

  33. Shawn December 16th, 2009 at 6:39 PM

    Eh..you know the saying..LIVE BY THE SWORD…well no need to go on!

  34. Rodney December 17th, 2009 at 8:44 PM

    This is a sad story and no, the police should not have tasered him. But he also should not have illegal drugs and he certainly should not have tried to swallow it. Though it was ultimately his own fault, I wish the outcome was different because no one deserves to die like that. He was young and I know so many people who do marijuana so I don’t even think he’s stupid or disturbed, just young and naive. Prayers to both his real family and his porn family.

  35. Niles December 17th, 2009 at 11:21 PM

    I was not aware of his work, but he seemed to be a nice young guy. This is what happens when we hire the lowest dregs of the earth for our police forces.

  36. cemego December 20th, 2009 at 2:40 AM

    I am so freakin glad I do not and never want to live in that stupid ghetto state known as Florida! That whole state is O V E R R A T E D! all dime store hookers and power hungry law enforcement! Florida sucks!

  37. Human Being December 20th, 2009 at 6:50 AM

    This is tragic. My heart goes out to the family and friends. My prayers also go out to the people who have made negative comments… you need it most. Your comments prove that many levels of hatred and prejustice still exist. A human being has undeservingly died, at the hands of injustice. Weather it be the use of a weapon which is so readily abused by police, or the backward laws which make pot illeagal. I am not a pot smoker or drink alcohol, but saying yes to one and no to the other makes no sense. How many deaths occur due to drinking and driving? Yet it is still legal. I’ve also heard pot is a gateway to more harmfull drugs… ok, than what is alcohol… the same argument should apply. How sadly hipocritical. One thing that is also sad… I’ve heard in emergencies like this the airway is cut open. Did someone forget this could be done? Why didn’t the EMR do this? After clearing the airway CPR could have revived the kid…THAT to me, is where equal blame for this kids death should lie, next to the wrongfull use of a taser. Tasers stun victoms, cunvulsing victoms, rendering them helpless. If this man knew a weapon would be fired upon him, he would have not swallowed anything, including his own spit. Police used excess force. Use of tasers like this have been banned in Canada, where I live. After being tasered, several victoms died. It seems even having a slight heart condition and being tasered upon can kill you. This weapon electrically shocks your nervous system cunvulsing all your muscles, throat, as in this case, or heart. How sad three cops feltso threatened by a single, gay, weaponless man. RIP, may God forgive the cowards who murdered you and the cowards who use excuses to justify your tragic end. God Bless

  38. Joey December 20th, 2009 at 2:21 PM

    He deliberately and voluntarily put the bag of weed in his mouth and tried to swallow it. As far as I’m concerned this was SUICIDE.
    Happy holidays everyone!