The Danville Police Department wishes to inform the public about a potentially deadly batch of heroin laced with illegally sourced fentanyl or similar substance.
Several individuals required medical treatment within the last week after they took what they believed to be heroin. The individuals were from Danville and the surrounding area. Danville Police are not aware of any deaths attributed to this series of overdoses. The increased risk this presents to the public is because this particular batch of drugs may be laced with fentanyl or similar substance.
According to the Center for Disease Control, “Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever, approved for treating severe pain…It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine…It is often mixed with heroin and/or cocaine as a combination product—with or without the user’s knowledge—to increase its euphoric effects…much of the synthetic opioid overdose increase may be due to illegally made fentanyl.”
The Danville Police Department was notified of these overdoses by family and friends of the patients who overdosed. Police immediately began an investigation and have thus far arrested one individual suspected of trafficking the batch of drugs contributing to the overdoses. However, the investigation is ongoing and the risk for anyone coming into contact with this batch of illegal drugs still exists.
The Danville Police Department is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all and we ask that anyone with information on this case to contact us through our CARE app to report crime tips or 434-793-0000.
CARE: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=818#
Arrest: Reed, Damion Q. (age 28)
Charges: Virginia State Code 18.2-248.1(A) Intent to distribute marijuana
Virginia State Code 18.2-248 (C) Intent to distribute controlled substance