Suspected heroin dealer arrested

A suspected heroin dealer is behind bars after Elyria narcotics detectives were able to link the drugs to an overdosing man who had to be given 14 doses of naloxone, according to Elyria police Capt. Christopher Costantino.

Robert A. Starr, 23, of Parmely Avenue in Elyria, was charged with felony trafficking in heroin, felony trafficking in cocaine and felony corrupting another with drugs. Starr was booked into the Lorain County Jail on Jan. 24.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m. Jan. 24, officers responded to a hotel in the 1800 block of Lorain Boulevard to find a 32-year-old male unresponsive in one of the rooms. Costantino said naloxone, which is essentially the antidote to an opiate overdose, was given to the man while en route to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center.

“He’s in extremely critical condition,” he said, noting the victim was on a ventilator fighting for his life.

Narcotics detectives began investigating immediately, Costantino said, and were able to link the drugs to Starr. Around 3 p.m. Jan. 24, Starr was observed as the front seat passenger in a white Ford Edge that was returning to the Lorain Boulevard hotel.

Officers made contact with Starr and placed him under arrest. Costantino said Starr admitted to selling the victim heroin.

However, based on the number of naloxone doses it took to revive the victim, the captain believes the drugs he purchased were a more potent substance, such as fentanyl or another derivative heroin. The substance recovered Jan. 24 was sent to the Lorain County Crime Lab for testing.

Melissa Ortiz, 30, of East 31st Street in Lorain, was the driver of the Edge and she was charged with possession of drugs. Michael Artis, 48, of South Central Drive in Lorain, was a back seat passenger in the Edge and he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Starr entered no plea at his arraignment in Elyria Municipal Court on Jan. 25. The suspect’s bond was set at $250,000 and he is set to appear for a preliminary hearing Feb. 2.

Starr