Man charged in overdose victim’s death
PHOENIXVILLE» A Phoenixville man is facing charges after police confirmed he sold the opioid carfentanil that led to a man’s death.
Damon Eskridge, 20, has been arrested after police say they linked him to the overdose death of a 34-yearoldman and the first appearance of carfentanil in Chester County. Carfentanil is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid that is used to tranquilize elephants.
On July 4 at around 11:50 p.m., police responded to the 300 block of Second Avenue where they found a 34-yearoldman on his back, according to court documents. Police determined the incident to be a drug overdose after finding heroin and paraphernalia in plain view near the man’s body. Police said they found several empty heroin bags stamped with different phrases including “Chapo,” “Wells Fargo” and “New Arrival.” In addition to a hypodermic needle, authorities also located four bags still containing heroin and stamped with ”New Arrival.”
Police searched through a phone belonging to the deceased and found conversations they believed to be related to a drug deal, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Police said text messages were with a contact labeled “Kevin D” and included a meeting location and price for the alleged purchase.
On July 5, an undercover officer arranged a drug transaction with “Kevin D” using the deceased’s phone. Police arranged for “Kevin D” to deliver 12 bags of heroin in the area of St. Mary’s Street and South Street, police said. Police requested that “Kevin D” deliver the drugs to their vehicle and he was taken into custody by officers once he arrived.
“Kevin D,” later identified as Eskridge, had been in possession of 12 bags of heroin stamped with the words, “New Arrival.”
A toxicology report com- pleted on July 17 on the deceased victim showed he died of acute carfentanil toxicity, according to the Chester County Coroner’s Office.
“Carfentanil is an extremely potent synthetic opioid that is often disguised as heroin ormixed in with heroin. Carfentanil is incredibly dangerous because it is 10,000 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than fentanyl,” said , Chester County Coroner Dr. Gordon Eck. “Because of the drug’s potency and its ability to be absorbed through the skin, only properly trained and equipped professionals should hand any substance suspect to contain carfentanil. If you suspect that you have been exposed to carfentanil, seek immediate medical attention.”
The incident was the first reported appearance of carfentanil in Chester County, according to authorities. The drug is known by the street name “gray death” because of its potency. According to au- thorities, the drug can often cause almost instantaneous cardiovascular collapse and death.
“Drug traffickers and drug users are engaged in a vicious cycle. The addicts, with their bodies and brains desensitized by repeated drug use, need stronger and stronger drugs to keep up their high,” said Chester County District Attorney TomHogan. “The drug dealers are only toohappy to sell the addicts stronger drugs like carfentanil, regardless of the risks. The end result is more money for the dealers and more dead bodies on the streets.”
Carfentanil first appeared in Western Pennsylvania earlier this year andmade its way to the Harrisburg area a few months ago. The drug has recently begun showing up in overdose victims in the Philadelphia area, according to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. Carfentanil comes in forms including powder, blotter paper, or spray, and can be absorbed through skin or accidental inhalation, pos- ing a major threat to police and other first responders. Additionally, naloxone, the overdose reversal drug, has limited effect on carfentanil victims, authorities say. The drug can be lethal in amounts less than one milligram.
“Think of a couple grains of salt. That is the amount of carfentanil that can kill a drug user looking for a new high or a police officer unlucky enough to accidentally ingest the drug. In Chester County, we are working together every day to keep this poison out of our homes, schools and businesses,” said Hogan.
Eskridge is facing a charge of drug delivery resulting in death and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 26 before District Judge Theodore Michaels. He was unable to post his set $1 million bail and is being held at Chester County Prison.
“This was great work by our officers who were able to follow through andmake the arrest,” said Phoenixville Police Chief Tom Sjos- trom. “We will continue to work with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office in an effort to combat this new threat to our community and first responders. Our officers have to take extra precautions knowing that any contact with heroin might also mean contact with carfentanil, which could have deadly consequences.”
The Phoenixville Police Department’s investigation was assisted by the Chester County Detectives. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Pierce of the Chester County Drug and Organized Crime Unit. Anyone with any further information is asked to contact Phoenixville Police Officer Anthony Ducknosky at 610-933-8801.