Police Report: Owens Hospitalized After Suicide Attempt

DALLAS -- Sept. 27, 2006 — -- Flamboyant Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens attempted suicide by overdosing on prescription pain medication Tuesday, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened, according to an internal police report obtained by The Associated Press.

Terrell Owens' reported suicide attempt is just the latest bizarre twist in his tumultuous NFL career.

The report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens was released from the hospital on Wednesday morning was was seen giving "thumbs up" to reporters. He made no comment as he got into an SUV and was driven away.

The Dallas police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

The friend mentioned in the report is Owens' publicist, Kim Etheridge, according to reports. She told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Dallas Morning News that reports of an attempted suicide were false.

Etheridge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheridge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheredge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.