Displaying items by tag: overdose

The 19-month-old baby boy who accidentally overdosed in his West Hill home in Akron last week has died. 

According to police, the boy ingested heroin, fentanyl or another type of opiate after coming in contact with a baggie at the home. 

At the time of the overdose, the boy's older sibling, a 9-year-old, dialed 911. He was given a dose of NARCAN at the home, but it had no effect. Afterwords, he was transported to Akron Children's where he was given another dose that revived him. Sunday night, the boy died in the hospital. 

The mother of the boy was at the home when police arrived, but left shortly after. Akron Police were trying to find her before she showed up about 3 hours later at Akron Children's. She was arrested on an outstanding felony theft warrant out of Portage County, but hadn't been charged in the overdose of her son. That boy, and the woman's two other children were placed in custody of Summit County Children's Services until further notice. At that time, last week, Lt. Rick Edwards with APD said charges related to this most recent incident were very likely to be filed soon. 

An autopsy is pending with the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office. 

Akron Police are investigating after a baby boy accidentally overdosed, forcing his older sibling to call 911 and responding paramedics to issue not one, but two doses of NARCAN, the opioid antidote that is administered through a nasal spray. 

It happened Thursday evening about 6:30, police say, at a home on Gale Street in Akron. Upon arrival, paramedics found the 19-month-old boy unresponsive. NARCAN was administered at the home, but was ineffective. The boy was then transported to Akron Children's Hospital where a second dose of NARCAN was given to the child. Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards says it's likely the child touched a baggy or some other packaging that was left out that had some opioid residue left on it. A toxicology report is being run to determine what type of opioid the boy was exposed to. 

The mother was at home when Akron Police arrived, but she left. It was a few hours before Lt. Edwards with Akron PD says she showed up at Akron Children's Hospital. Police interviewed her and then found that she had a felony warrant out for her arrest out of Portage County on an unrelated theft charge. 

As for Thursday's incident, Akron Police have not charged the mother with a crime, though Lt. Edwards says it is likely that she will be charged soon. She's currently in Portage County Jail on the theft charge. 

The parents of a two-year-old who accidentally overdosed on a synthetic opiate back have been arrested, according to Akron Police.

On March 7th, around 1 a.m., 27-year-old Randy Boggs found the toddler unresponsive in the home and called 911. He and 21-year-old Catelynn Smiley of Akron are charged with felony child endangering. They've been booked in Summit County Jail.

Read the full press release from Akron Police below: 

Child Endangering/Unintentional Overdose:

Detectives arrested the parents of the 2 year old that overdosed on a synthetic opiate around 1:00am on March 7, 2017. The 2 year old male was found unresponsive by the father at his residence in the 500 block of Brittain Road. Detectives charged Randy Boggs II, 27 and Catelynn Smiley, 21, both of Brittain Road, with felony child endangering. They were booked into the Summit County Jail.

Rashon Williams, 22, of Akron pled guilty to his part in the overdose death of Megan Carlson, who was six months pregnant, back in August of 2016. 

Williams appearing in Summit County Common Pleas Court Tuesday, was sentenced immediately to 8 years in prison by Judge Christine Croce for two cunty of Involuntary Manslaughter, Trafficking in Heroin, and also Possession of Cocaine stemming from another case. 

Megan Carlson died form ingesting carfentanil, a deadly animal tranquilizer often mixed with heroin to make it more potent. She was 6-months pregnant at the time; her unborn baby also died. 

Back in January Williams, who was on bond on the Involuntary Manslaughter charges, was caught with cocaine. 

Medina County Jail officials investigating how three inmates overdosed in a holding area at the jail last Friday. 

It happened in a pre-booking area at the jail that has no cameras in it. A deputy was walking by the room and noticed two of the three inmates on the ground. 

The room is also an area where inmates are held prior to going through a full-body scanner. 

Officials think it was heroin that one of the men had hidden inside him. 

Now, Medina County looking at changing their booking process. 

On Wednesday, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy released information regarding the availability of naloxone (Narcan), the potentially life-saving opiate-overdose antidote drug, in pharmacies statewide. 

The press release stated that more than 1,300 pharmacies in 84 counties throughout Ohio offer naloxone. Recently added to the participating pharmacies were Giant Eagle and Rite Aid stores, which has increased that number. 

Naloxone is described as a safe medication that holds the potential to reverse an overdose that is caused by prescription opioids, heroin, and/or fentanyl. If the drug is administered while a patient is overdosing, it blocks the effects of the opioids on the brain and can restore breathing in a matter of minutes in some cases. 

"I am pleased that pharmacies throughout Ohio are recognizing the importance of offering this life-saving medication," said State Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Steven W. Shierholt. 

Recently, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 4 into law, allowing pharmacies to dispense naloxone without a prescription. As a direct result of the law, and now with the addition of Giant Eagle and Rite Aid, 65% of Ohio pharmacies (1,374) carry the drug. 

Robert Tepper, 54, of Akron is facing charges that he provided the deadly dose of fentanyl that killed his wife.

Back on April 3, 2016 Tepper called 911 to report his wife, 52-year-old Karen Tepper, was unresponsive in their home on Moon Street in Akron.

EMS arrived and shortly after pronounced Karen Tepper dead on the scene. Robert admitted to buying the drugs and giving them to his wife.

Tepper is charged with involuntary manslaughter and corrupting another with drugs; both felonies. 

Ohio House Bill 110, the "911 Good Samaritan Law," was signed by Governor John Kasich back in June and takes effect Tuesday. 

The law offers immunity from prosecution to anyone who is trying to report a drug overdose, whether it be for themselves or someone else, and is actively seeking help. It covers people who are calling 911, trying to report to police or to a medical facility up to two times. The third time, the law states, would leave the person reporting the overdose open to being charged with drug offenses. 

The Good Samaritan Law is one of several efforts being made in Ohio to curb drug addiction and overdoses that have spiked over the first half of 2016, especially over the past few months. 

Read more about the law here. 

Guilty pleas across the board now for the four adults who's heroin habits helped kill a 16-year old ini a Green hotel room back in April. Andrew Frye died of an overdose watched by his mother Heather, grandmother Brenda and family friend Jessica Irons. Now 59-year old Donald Callahan pleads guilty to posession of heroin, the fatal dose. He was supposed to go on trial today. He'll be sentenced in October.
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(Summit Prosecutor's Office) Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Donald Callaghan, 59, of Neville Avenue in Akron, pled guilty to possession of heroin. Callaghan's girlfriend, 52-year-old Brenda Frye, sold heroin belonging to Callaghan to her daughter Heather. Heather Frye's 16-year-old son Andrew died after ingesting the heroin.

Callaghan pled guilty as indicted to the following charge:

Possession of Heroin – a felony of the 5th degree

On August 31, 2016, Brenda Frye, Heather Frye, and Jessica Irons all pled guilty to various charges, including involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the death of Andrew Frye.

On April 6, 2016, 16-year-old Andrew Frye was found dead at a hotel room in Green, Ohio. The Summit County Medical Examiner determined the teen died from injecting heroin. Investigators discovered Frye's mother Heather, her friend Jessica Irons, and Heather Frye's mother Brenda Frye (Andrew's Grandmother) were all in the hotel room prior to Andrew's death. As part of their investigation, Summit County Sheriff's Deputies discovered the heroin Andrew used was obtained by Brenda Frye from her boyfriend Donald Callaghan. Brenda sold the heroin to Andrew's mother Heather while Andrew was present.

Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Lynne Callahan is scheduled to sentence Callaghan on October 26, 2016 at 1pm.

story updated 1:34 p.m.

There are steps being taken to address some of the community concerns surrounding the heroin epidemic in Akron. The Akron Police Department has started training officers on using Narcan to help save the lives of those who may have overdosed.

"We want to do everything we can to save lives," said Akron Police Chief James Nice. "So the next step is to put in into the police cruisers. In case the cruiser does get there before EMS, we're given every opportunity to save a life."

Nice said it's not often that police officers arrive on scene of an overdose before EMS, but he still believes it's important to have officers equipped with the drug to offer help.

At this point, Nice said carrying Narcan does not come with a cost for the department. The first shipment of the supply will come from the hospitals and the Summit County Health Department. Nice said grants are expected to help pay for additional supplies when needed.

Nice expects Narcan to be in every police cruiser beginning this Friday.

A 27-year old Akron man is the latest casualty of the war on heroin and fentanyl, but a casualty still alive andindicted by a federal grand jury on charges he supplied the fatal does of fentanyl that killed a drug user identified as "J.H." by the U.S. Attorney for Northern Ohio last September. Jurmaine Jeffries faces two counts in the indictment with an extra sentencing penalty because the drug overdose led to a death, said Acting U.S. Attorney Carole Rendon.

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(U.S. Attorney) An Akron man was indicted on federal charges for distributing fentanyl that caused the death of a person in last fall, said Carole Rendon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Jurmaine A. Jeffries, 27, was named in the two-count indictment. He is charged with distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The indictment also seeks a sentencing enhancement because the fentanyl Jeffries sold resulted in the death on Sept. 16, 2015, of a person identified as J.H. in Akron, according to the indictment.

"We will continue to work to educate the public on the dangers of opioids and get help for those who want it," Rendon said. "We will also aggressively prosecute those who sell heroin and fentanyl, which have caused so much pain and death in our community."

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda K. Barr following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal records, if any, the Defendant's role in the offenses and the unique characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The cases involving the mother and grandmother who are accused of supplying a deadly dose of heroin to a teenager are heading to the grand jury on Tuesday, April 19.

Mother Heather Frye and grandmother Brenda Frye are being charged with involuntary manslaughter, among other charges for the death of 16-year-old Andrew Frye who died of an apparent overdose in a Green Hotel room last week.

They appeared via video arraignment at a Barberton Municipal Court hearing on Wednesday.

Heather's sister Misty Frye told WAKR.net that it's all been a mistake.

"I don't think anything was intentionally done, we all know somebody is going to serve time out of this."

Like her mother and sister, Misty Frye also struggles with drug addiction but now says she is two years sober but it is hard to get clean without the right tools.

"If you dont have the tools you dont know no other way of life," Misty said. "I finally got those tool and I think they both need some rehab and need to sit down for a little bit."

In a related case, Judge David Fish reduced the bond of family friend Jessica Irons from $100,000 to $30,000 and ordered her to check into rehab.

Irons is being charged with drug possesion and tampering with evidence.

Half a dozen residents at a local correctional facility was taken to the hospital after suspected drug overdoses late Tuesday night. Oriana House officials say two men at the Summit County Community Based Correctional Facility (CBCF) were treated and released, but four men are still being evaluated. Officials report the residents' symptoms indicate that the drug involved in the overdoses were linked to synthetic marijuana, also known as K2. But officials note that the chemical make-up of K2 constantly changes -- making it difficult to test.

Officials say as a result of the incidents, Oriana House staff members have "restricted the movement of all the clients at the Summit County CBCF, allowing residents to leave only for approved employment and medical appointments."

Full searches will be conducted in the facilities and
enhanced pat downs" are being implemented as well.

In a news release, Executive Vice President Bernie Rochford stated:

"We constantly monitor our clients and our facilities to take every effort to keep drugs out of our programs. But like many jails and prisons that have recently reported overdoses, Oriana House is a community based program and is not immune to drugs getting into our facilities."

Local authorities are investigating the incidents.

For every life that was lost to heroin in Stark County this year, a cross has been placed in front of the county's sheriff's department.

Stark County Sheriff's deputies are hoping the image raises awareness and encourages others to speak up after the number of deaths in the area has significantly increased.

"It's a community problem and we need to address it as a community," said Major C.J. Stantz with the Stark County Sheriff's Office.

So far this year, 34 people have died from a heroin overdose -- an increase from 23 deaths reported during the same period last year.

Officials have placed a message board outside the Stark County Sheriff's Office with an anonymous tip line to help prevent another fatal overdose from happening.