City Council Meeting Date: March 20, 2018
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Chief of Police, Monte Nelson
Title
Presentation related to recent overdoses and drug identified as Carfentanil
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council will receive an update on recent overdoses in Northfield caused by illicit drugs containing Carfentanil.
Summary Report:
On Friday, February 23, members of Northfield Police, Northfield Hospital EMS, and NAFRS responded to a report of two unresponsive adults. It appeared both victims were suffering from drug overdose. EMS administered multiple doses of Narcan/Naloxone to both victims, transported them to the Northfield Hospital, and they recovered. On Sunday, February 25, Emergency Responders responded to a report of an unresponsive male. Again, responders administered Narcan/ Naloxone, transported the victim to the Hospital, and he recovered. In both cases, greater than the usual doses of naloxone were required to revive the victims. Investigators discovered all three victims had ingested the same type of pills sold on the black market as Oxycodone.
Police staff conferred with Northfield Hospital Emergency doctors and EMS staff regarding the overdoses. All agreed the pills in question likely contained unidentified, potentially lethal substances that presented a significant public health risk.
On February 25 and 26, Police Department staff sent out a Press Release via local media, City of Northfield Website and Facebook, St. Olaf and Carleton contacts, Northfield School District, and other city and county wide partner groups.
Northfield Investigators worked with the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to expedite testing of the suspect pills at their forensic lab. Investigators also continued to investigate the source(s) of the drugs. Information was received from several sources including the Tip411 system.
On February 28, Northfield Officers and Agents from the Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force (CRDVOTF) arrested the person suspected of distributing the drugs locally.
On March 1, the BCA lab determined the pills from both incidents contained Carfentanil. This drug is a synthetic opioid that is extremely dangerous, not designed for human consumption, and often lethal. Carfentanil is about 10,000 times more potent than a similar amount of morphine, and it was designed as a large animal tranquilizer. Northfield Police sent out a news release with this updated info locally and then statewide via the BCA and Metro news outlets. The presence of these drugs was viewed as a serious risk to the public and emergency responders.
On March 2, the local suspect was charged in Rice County Court with seven felony counts related to Distribution, Sales, and Possession of Controlled Substances. As a result of the local investigation and additional action by drug investigators in the Mankato area, a second suspect was arrested and charged in Blue Earth County on drug charges.
We are very proud of the diligent efforts of our Northfield Police Officers and Investigators, CRDVOTF Agents, and the citizens who came forward with information; together, they responded quickly and efficiently to notify the public, identify and arrest the suspect, and work with other agencies to remove dangerous drugs from several communities.
This case is a great example of the importance of partnerships we share within Northfield, across Rice County, and around the state. We rely on these many connections to more effectively respond to serious incidents and public concerns; no one entity can accomplish these results on their own. I wanted to personally take the opportunity at the Council meeting to highlight this issue and to recognize the professional and successful response of the police department and our local partners.
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