Overdose reports continue in Mon Valley
Police departments throughout the Mid-Mon Valley reported more suspected heroin overdoses Tuesday – none fatal.
But investigators found three stamp bags marked “Made in Colombia,” the same as several related to weekend overdose cases.
The smattering of overdose cases followed a rash of incidents over the weekend in Washington County, including one resulting in a death in Charleroi and two near Washington, Pa.
Officials have yet to release the names of the deceased.
Matthew Coulter, 32, of Forward reportedly overdosed 2 a.m. Monday at a Railroad Street, Monongahela, residence, police said.
Monongahela police Chief Brian Tempest said officers found a used stamp bag marked “Made in Colombia,” along with syringes, spoons and other paraphernalia.
Coulter was treated at Monongahela Valley Hospital in Carroll and sent Tuesday to the Washington County Correctional Facility, where he is being held on a probation violation.
Charleroi Regional police said they responded to two suspected heroin overdose calls Monday night in the borough.
According to Detective Chad Zelinsky, emergency medical personnel administered Narcan – a drug used to reverse the effects of opioids in overdose cases – to a 36-year-old female.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Lincoln Avenue, and a used stamp bag marked “Made in Colombia” was found nearby, Zelinsky said.
Three hours later, EMS workers saved the life of a 24-year-old man in the 300 block of Crest Avenue, Zelinsky said.
On Monday morning, a family member found a 35-year-old man dead in his Lookout Avenue home, the likely victim of a heroin overdose.
Zelinsky confirmed officers recovered one used stamp bag but declined to reveal the marking on the package because of the ongoing investigation.
Law enforcement officials in that case are awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports from Washington County Coroner Tim Warco.
In Fayette County, Washington Township police Superintendent Ray Moody said one man overdosed Sunday along the side of Gillespie Hollow Road.
A stamp bag marked “Made in Colombia” was found inside the man's vehicle, Moody said.
It was the second such incident over the weekend as township officers responded to a call involving a man who overdosed Saturday at the Marion Villa housing project.
Moody said medical personnel administered Narcan to both men.
In Westmoreland County, North Belle Vernon police Chief Eugene Lipari said EMS workers administered Narcan to a younger male inside a Grant Street apartment. Police, however, did not recover a stamp bag or paraphernalia, the chief said.
Rostraver police responded to a possible overdose call Sunday, police Chief Greg Resetar said. The township had been relatively quiet over the weekend when it came to those types of calls, he added.
Resetar said the department has had its share of overdose cases, but none during the recent spree.
Monessen police first reported a stamp bag marked “Made in Colombia” was confiscated while investigating a public overdose on Saturday.
“I said (Monday) this wasn't a coincidence, but we couldn't prove it,” Monessen police Chief John Mandarino said.
“If it's true multiple overdoses are happening, and all these stamp bags are marked the same, that proves either there's a bad batch of heroin going around or it's a more potent form.”
Rick Bruni Jr. is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at rbruni@tribweb.com or 724-684-2635. Staff writer Chris Buckley contributed to this story.
