Warrants for Michael Jackson’s doctor released

Investigators copied hard drives and seized an iPhone, binders and other documents Tuesday during their searches of the Las Vegas home and office of Michael Jackson’s doctor, according to search warrants released Thursday.

Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Los Angeles Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department conducted the searches at Dr. Conrad Murray’s home at Red Rock Country Club and his medical office on Flamingo Road as part of the investigation into Jackson’s death.

Authorities also searched a storage unit on East Tropicana Avenue but did not seize anything there.

District Court Judge Tim Williams signed the first warrant July 24 allowing authorities to search the doctor’s home at 2426 Grassy Spring Place at the Red Rock Country Club and his medical office, Global Cardiovascular Associates, at 2110 E. Flamingo Road. He signed the warrant for the storage unit at 1400 E. Tropicana Ave. Tuesday afternoon.

The sworn statement explaining the reasons for the searches were sealed.

In the warrants, investigators said they were searching for evidence of several crimes including prescribing to an addict and manslaughter.

The warrants authorized authorities to look for medical records, business records, and other evidence connected to Michael Jackson or his many aliases.

Among those listed in the warrants were Jack London, Omar Arnold, Faheem Muhammad, Frank Tyson and Josephine Baker.

They were also looking for purchase and shipping records for propofol, an anesthetic that Murray told investigators he administered to Jackson the night before he died to help him sleep, said a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

The official told AP that Murray left the bedroom where Jackson was sedated and returned to find the star not breathing. It was unclear how long Murray was out of the room.

Tuesday’s searches at Murray’s home and office attracted media attention from journalists in Las Vegas and California, many of whom staked out both locations for much of the sweltering day. At Murray’s Summerlin neighborhood, as many as four news helicopters swirled above the scene.

At the office, investigators copied six computer storage drives and seized a phone message book, a CD with the name “Omar Arnold” on it, and various binders and paperwork, according to the warrants.

At the home, authorities copied the contents of a computer hard drive, a cell phone and a BlackBerry. They also seized an iPhone.

Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281. The Associated Press contributed to this report.