When Los Angeles County labor chief Miguel Contreras died of a heart attack in May 2005, some news reports said he had been stricken in his car after a long day of meetings.
But according to an LA Weekly cover story published Thursday, Contreras was found unconscious at a business that purported to sell herbal medicines on Florence Avenue in South Los Angeles.
In a 911 call, a woman who was with him said the man, later identified as Contreras, was there to have his fortune told, the Weekly reported. Fire Department officials did not respond to repeated requests Thursday to release the tape.
The Weekly reported that six months after his death, police made three arrests related to prostitution at the same address where Contreras was found. Los Angeles Police Lt. Paul Vernon confirmed the arrests Thursday, but said that police had made no connection between Contreras and prostitution, and that it would be unfair to infer one.
No autopsy was conducted, a decision made at the request of Contreras' family, labor sources told The Times on Thursday. The Weekly, also citing anonymous sources, reported that then-City Councilman Martin Ludlow, who was among the politicians and labor leaders at the Inglewood hospital where Contreras was pronounced dead, made phone calls from the hospital to find a doctor who would sign the death certificate so there would be no autopsy.
Asked about that Thursday, Ludlow said: "Miguel is a dear friend. The stories surrounding his passing are very, very unfortunate. Those close to him and his family who arrived in the hospital did so to offer their comfort and support and prayers. And I'm unaware of any improper actions taken by anyone on that tragic evening or since then." He declined to elaborate.
Contreras, 52, was executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the group's top post; his widow, Maria Elena Durazo, has since been elected to the post.
She declined to comment when approached at a Democratic campaign event Thursday morning.
Other union officials said that the details of Contreras' death did not interest them and that the loss of a friend and a labor leader with strong strategic sense was more important.
"I'd just like to see Miguel be able to rest in peace," said Pat McOsker, president of the city firefighters union.
