Yes, he did say that. But - and I'm sure the defense will point this out on cross - he offers no physical evidence in his own post-mortem to support that conclusion.
It's a very strange autopsy report in that regard. It's like saying, 'I found no wounds of any kind, but there was a bloody knife found at the scene and therefor I conclude the knife was a contributing factor.' FWIW, the video looks horrible to me too. But, I watched it with my wife who's was a big city ER doc for close to 30-years. She says the toxicology report speaks for itself. He had CLEARLY fatal levels of opioids/opioid derivatives in his body. No one has enough 'tolerance' to survive that level of fentanyl in their system.
If he had admitted (in time) he had just ingested a bunch of pills which would have then indicated to cops that he needed Narcan, he wouldn't be dead today.
That's the thing: he did say he was having trouble breathing prior to the restraint. One side says that proves he was crying "wolf" and was not to be taken seriously; the other side says that should have warned the officer to be very, very careful.
Again, I am glad I am not on the jury.