Man charged with overdose death

WESTTOWN >> A Downingtown man who police say is an alleged drug dealer was taken into custody related to the death of a 33-yearold Westtown Township resident.

Nathan Hurd, 31, of Downingtown, was taken into custody Dec. 17 on an arrest warrant obtained by the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department, related to the death of a 33-year-old Westtown Township resident. Police did not identify the type of drug.

On Aug. 24, 2022, the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department, Chester County Coroner’s Office, Chester County Detectives and Chester County District Attorney’s Office initiated an investigation into a suspected drug related death of the 33-year-old Westtown Township resident.

After a four-month long investigation, charges were filed and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Nathan Hurd, for his alleged involvement in the sale of a controlled substance that later resulted in the victim’s death.

On Dec. 17, the Pennsylvania State Police located and took Nathan Hurd into custody after conducting a traffic stop on a vehicle in Montgomery County, for an investigation unrelated to the Westtown Township investigation. Hurd is currently being held at Chester County Prison, unable to post $500,000 cash bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Martin G. Goch on Dec. 28.

A few years ago, the state Legislature reworked the crime of drug delivery resulting in death, making it much easier for prosecutors to prove. The charge has been used unequally across the state, and some of the most aggressive counties are in central and south-central Pennsylvania.

Seven years ago, prosecutors in Pennsylvania used the charge in 15 cases, according to figures provided by the state judicial association. In 2020, that number skyrocketed to 205, a nearly 1,300 percent increase.

Hurd