Former Angels Official Admits to Searching Employee’s Desk for Drugs

UPDATE: A startling admission was made in a Santa Ana courtroom as Tim Mead, former head of communications for the Los Angeles Angels, confessed to searching the desk of his former employee, Eric Kay, not once, but three times for drugs. This revelation came during the ongoing wrongful death civil suit filed by the family of Tyler Skaggs, who tragically died in 2019 from a fentanyl overdose.

The trial, which is drawing significant attention, began with Mead testifying about his suspicions regarding Kay’s potential drug use during his tenure with the Angels. Kay, who was later convicted in federal court in 2022 for supplying Skaggs with the lethal fentanyl-laced pill, is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence. Mead described his searches, stating, “Three times we went through Eric’s drawers in his desk… to look for a syringe or powder or cutting tool.”

This testimony is crucial as it outlines the alarming circumstances leading to Skaggs’ overdose. Mead admitted that although he had suspicions about Kay’s drug use, he did not find any evidence during his searches. Despite this, he maintained that he believed Kay was managing his condition with prescription medications, although it was clear that Kay was struggling with bipolar disorder and other mental health issues.

The courtroom was tense as Rusty Hardin, the lead attorney for the Skaggs family, pressed Mead on his decisions regarding Kay’s behavior. Hardin questioned whether Mead played the role of “God” in handling Kay’s issues, to which Mead responded, “I tried to help an individual and his family.”

As the testimony unfolded, it became evident that Mead had multiple interactions with Kay and his family concerning Kay’s erratic behavior. He recalled several incidents from 2013 to 2019, including a hospitalization in 2018 due to Kay’s alarming state at Angels Stadium. Mead described it as “the worst he’d seen Kay,” acknowledging that he realized the situation was beyond his control.

The trial has revealed a troubling picture of the Angels’ internal response to Kay’s issues. Mead admitted he did not report Kay’s behavior to upper management or human resources, despite witnessing troubling incidents, including Kay’s unprofessional conduct with interns. One incident involved Kay having an affair with an intern, which Mead considered a personal matter and did not escalate.

As the questioning intensified, Hardin highlighted the potential negligence of the Angels organization. He asked Mead directly if a good person could also be negligent, to which Mead conceded. However, when asked if this negligence applied to his handling of Kay, Mead firmly denied.

The Skaggs family is seeking a staggering $118 million in damages, citing lost wages and emotional turmoil stemming from the loss of their son. As the trial continues, the implications of these testimonies could have far-reaching effects on the Angels organization and its handling of player welfare.

The courtroom drama will resume on Friday as the trial progresses in Orange County Superior Court. The stakes are high, not only for the Skaggs family but also for the future of how sports organizations address mental health and substance abuse among their personnel.

Stay tuned for more urgent updates as this trial unfolds.