Five people, including a man suspected of selling heroin, were taken into custody Tuesday night after the Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit investigated a reported heroin overdose at a home on Hambro Avenue in Union.
|
|
By 8 p.m. that evening, task force and Union police officers went to a home on Spradling Avenue where they arrested a man, in his mid-20s, who is suspected of selling heroin. Grellner said they believe the man who overdosed purchased heroin there.
Also taken into custody was a woman who rented the home, according to Grellner. A second man who was under the influence of heroin was taken into custody for his own safety.
Grellner said investigators were told that the suspected dealer reportedly had overdosed in that home the night before but recovered.
A search of the home turned up some suspected heroin along with paraphernalia to "cut" the heroin and to use it.
Officers later went back to the home on Hambro where they found another subject under the influence of heroin. He and another man were taken into custody on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia.
"We're seeking evictions on the tenants of both homes," Grellner told The Missourian.
Wednesday night, task force officers went to a residence at a Washington mobile home park off Locust Street south of Eighth Street. There, they arrested two men and two women for possession of suspected heroin along with paraphernalia to both "cut" and use heroin.
Four children, all under the age of 8, were turned over to Division of Family Services officers.
Grellner sent a clear message to heroin dealers:
"If you continue to sell, we will find you and we will arrest you."
He said all the suspects were booked and released pending lab analysis of substances seized, which could take several months.
The task force continues to investigate and follow up leads in at least five heroin overdose deaths reported in Franklin County in a little over one month.
