2 dead after 5 Heroin overdoses in Harper Woods over 24 hours

Harper Woods police release statement after string of heroin overdoses

HARPER WOODS, Mich. – Harper Woods police said two people are dead after five people overdosed on heroin over a 24-hour period.

Police said two people were found dead Tuesday night after overdosing on heroin along Van Antwerp Street. Since the discovery, Harper Woods police have responded to two other incidents involving three people who overdosed.

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Officers went to the McDonald's restaurant at 17800 E. Eight Mile Road around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday after calls about an unresponsive man inside a vehicle. When police arrived, they woke up the 27-year-old Walled Lake man and took him to St. John Hospital for treatment.

A syringe and a pack of heroin were recovered at the scene.

The 27-year-old man is in stable condition. He was issued a citation for possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

At 5:03 p.m. Thursday, officers returned to the same McDonald's on reports of a woman on the floor inside a bathroom stall. Police found a 19-year-old St. Clair Shores woman unresponsive on the floor.

The woman was given a dose of Narcan and regained consciousness. She told police officers that her friend was out in her car in the parking lot. Officers found an 18-year-old Almont man in the vehicle. He was also unresponsive. He was given a dose of Narcan and regained consciousness.

Both teens were taken to St. John Hospital for treatment. They are in stable condition.

Syringes and heroin were found at the scene.

The teenagers were given citations for possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

Here is more information about the overdoses from Harper Woods police:

"The number of overdoses continues to climb, despite intensive efforts by law enforcement and health professionals to educate the publ ic to the dangers associated with using opioids.

"Our detective bureau has been and will continue to work closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the individual(s) responsible for distributing these deadly drugs. All three of the incidents yesterday could easily have resulted in the senseless deaths of the people involved.

"While most of the people overdosing in our community are not residents of Harper Woods, we will continue to push this message out, hoping that anyone who is addicted to opioids will seek treatment before they lose their life. There are resources available to help addicts and their families. Families Against Narcotics (FAN) is based in Macomb County and they offer a wide range of resources to help people with substance abuse problems. Our Hope Not Handcuffs program is part of that effort. If you, or someone you know is struggling with this addiction, please seek assistance immediately. Thi s epidemic shows no sign of decreasing, and families are losing loved ones due to this horrible addiction."


About the Author:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.