On Thursday at about 1:30 p.m., Jefferson City Police Officers responded to a possible overdose in the 2100 block of Anderson Drive. When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive 31-year old male Jefferson City resident in the backyard of a home at that location. Cole County EMS was summoned to the scene, and transported the subject to an area hospital for treatment.
The subject was stabilized by medical personnel and was subsequently interviewed by members of the Jefferson City Police Department Community Action Team. Information was obtained that the subject had purchased heroin from a source in Jefferson City and had lost consciousness after injecting that heroin intravenously. C.A.T. team officers were able to gather intelligence as to the supplier of the heroin.
C.A.T. team officers then located the suspect, a 24-year old male Jefferson City resident, and obtained consent to search his residence, where a large amount of drug paraphernalia typically associated with heroin use was discovered. The suspect was interviewed and arrested for Felony Distribution of Heroin and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Authorities said this arrest reflects part of a multi-agency effort to combat dangerous drug use within the Jefferson City/Cole County area, and the arrest of the supplier within hours of the overdose is part of what they hope is a continuing trend toward that effort.