Troubling Drug Overdoses

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. According to the Monroe Police Department (MPD), a troubling trend has developed. MPD said that from December 1 - December 3, 2022, they have responded to four deaths caused by overdoses. MPD officials say that the four deaths are related to the dangerous drug fentanyl. Detectives are said to be working toward tracking down the source of the drugs. Without elaborating further, MPD shared they are warning the public of the deadly effects of “this particular strain” that seems to be prevalent in the area. On December 3, 2022, according to police reports, MPD announced the arrest of 47-year-old Jarrell Lee Walker in connection to the deaths of two individuals. Police say they responded to the overdose deaths of two individuals, a Black man and a White woman, allegedly attributed to Walker. In the first response on McClendon St. in Monroe, officers found the Black male dead from what was called an overdose. Upon further investigation, police also said that a white powder substance was allegedly given to the male by Walker. While the investigation continued on McClendon St., another call came in as officers responded to a Washington St. address. Officers discovered the body of a deceased White female in the doorway of an apartment. Officers came in contact with three individuals in the apartment, Jarrell Walker, Carl Staten, and Lonnie Ruffin. Upon further questioning, Suspects Staten and Ruffin both had active warrants and were taken into custody, along with Walker as a suspect in the overdose deaths. An obtained search warrant at the Washington St. address yielded a black canister with a clear plastic bag inside containing a beige powder believed to be cocaine. Other alleged drug-related items were six crystal meth shards, a broken glass crack pipe, razor blades, a bag of pills, and a glass crack pipe with a bulb on the end. Police, through sources, perceived that Walker was allegedly responsible for the two deaths, as he also allegedly admitted his own drug use and allegedly distributing heroin to the two deceased victims. Walker’s bond is $109, 500 and he is charged with two counts of Negligent Homicide, Prohibited Acts Schedule III, Possession of a Dangerous Controlled Substance, Schedule ll, Prohibited Acts, Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Dangerous Controlled Substance l. The illegal drug game has changed with drug overdoses due to fentanyl-laced drugs.