Victim of drug overdose saved by friend, who was arrested

VALPARAISO — Police arrested Graham Baron, 27, of Lowell, on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance, but his insistence on breaking into a friend’s apartment may have saved the man’s life.

According to the police report, Baron was visiting a 36-year-old resident of an apartment in the 400 block of South Locust Street. About 8:45 p.m., Baron left to pick up his girlfriend but while he was gone, the friend didn’t answer his calls. Baron returned to Locust Street about 9:30 p.m. and, while the other man’s vehicle still was outside, he did not answer the door. Baron forced in the door and found his friend “on the couch and covered with sweat,” he later told police.

The 36-year-old man was not breathing and was turning purple, although he had a pulse, so Baron gave him several breaths, according to the police report. Knowing the friend had a history of overdosing on heroin, Baron also attempted to inject the man with Narcan, a medication that counteracts narcotics, but he could not find a vein.

Meanwhile, even though Baron had asked her not to, a neighbor who heard the break-in called 911.

Police took over the medi- cal care of the man until paramedics arrived. He was transported to Porter Regional Hospital. Police, who have requested a warrant to arrest the man on three felony charges — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic needle — noted the hospital listed him as in stable condition.

Meanwhile, Baron was becoming lethargic and disconnected, police said, and allegedly had taken Vicodin, Valium and Tramadol, none of which had been prescribed.

He was checked out at Porter Regional Hospital, then jailed.