Posted on 05/01/2024 3:41:12 AM PDT by texanyankee
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police said Tuesday they’re launching an investigation into who provided drugs that resulted in 51 suspected overdoses and possibly eight deaths throughout Austin.
During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, detectives told reporters they detained at least two people, calling them persons of interest in this deadly overdose investigation. One of those people is now facing a felony charge of in possession of a firearm, police said. However, more charges and arrests could be forthcoming.
“It is apparent there is a deadly batch of illicit narcotics in our community,” APD Asst. Chief Eric Fitzgerald said, adding police will find the people responsible and hold them accountable.
Travis County Judge Andy Brown called what unfolded in the last 27 hours as the “largest opioid overdose outbreak we’ve seen in years.” The earliest response to this surge began at about 9 a.m. Monday, and Austin-Travis County EMS paramedics said it was initially concentrated in the downtown area. However, other calls followed through Tuesday morning in different parts of the city.
The last surge of overdoses of this magnitude occurred in 2015 when K2, a synthetic drug, circulated in Austin.
Paramedics said they responded to 51 overdoses since Monday morning. Officials suspect eight people died of a drug overdose during this surge, but said many more suffered from cardiac arrests from Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon.
Several local leaders commended paramedics, police officers, firefighters and civilians for helping to administer opioid overdose reversal drugs, like Narcan, throughout this period. They said this effort helped to save many lives. They also extended condolences to the family members and friends who lost loved ones.
“You should never use an unknown substance. But if you choose to, we encourage you to start slow, start low and never use alone. You should always have a sober friend who has Narcan available so that they can administer and call 911,” ATCEMS Assistant Chief Steve White said.
Initial information shared Monday Officials said they are continuing to respond to a 1000% increase in overdose calls after they reported more than 30 “suspected overdoses” and four deaths on Monday, City of Austin Chief Medical Director Heidi Abraham said during a media briefing.
Culling the herd.
Gosh! How did this stuff get into the country?
Not seeing a need to investigate. You do stupid shxt, bad things can happen.
The buyer is the problem. Stop buying the seller goes elsewhere.
China and Mexico. Next case.
Somewhere, sometime in the middle of the night a nevrvous Narcisstocrat Politician or deep state official makes a call..: “I said to squeeze them like a cow being milked for all the money you can get,...not kill them with too potent a mix of drugs! Now the wrong people are looking in on this catastrophe and it will cost more money to “deal” with them!
“Overdoses?” Is there a just-right dose for destructive illicit drugs?
This is the stupid language we’ve been dragged into.
It’s the blue meth from that Heisenberg fellow.
i just heard that Paul Auster died — the liberal writer/author who’s junkie son killed his infant son with fentanyl a couple years back and then he himself OD’d a week or so later.
At least “justice was served” and we didn’t have to waste tons of $$$ on a silly show trial.
Well put!
But I am a bit peeved that it's only 8 for 51. Hopefully text time they will run up the score.
Beyond me why people want to ingest substances that could kill them just to get high.
Suspected Overdoses That Left 8 Dead, Governor Dinwiddie wrote:
#2: “Culling the herd.”
Well put!
But I am a bit peeved that it’s only 8 for 51. Hopefully text time they will run up the score.”
This is Austin, home to Texas’ Communists. This confirms my view that these overdoses and deaths are of mostly Democrats—so NO loss.
Cheering “assistants” and Narcan are a bad signs.
Funny how this rash of OD’s coincides with the influx of professional Pro-Palestinian agitators...
The Texas Attorney General should indict Joe Biden for drug trafficking and trafficking children. It is his policies that are flooding our country with deadly drugs and unaccompanied children. He is the real criminal. I don’t care if he’s too senile to defend himself.
Yep...winnowing the chaff.
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