Five individuals have been charged with drug offenses in Austin, Texas, as part of an investigation into a recent surge in opioid overdoses, according to the Austin Police Department. The suspects were arrested for either possession or delivery of crack cocaine that tested positive for fentanyl.
Gary Lewis, 50, and Denise Horton, 47, face charges of possession of fentanyl, a second-degree felony. Ronnie Mims, 45, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony. Kanady Rimijo, 32, and Marcellus Barron, 30, face charges related to the delivery of a controlled substance, with Rimijo facing a first-degree felony charge and Barron a second-degree felony charge.
While Horton and Rimijo have been released on $20,000 bond, the other three suspects remain in jail as of Tuesday morning.
An arrest warrant affidavit revealed that Rimijo's arrest was part of an undercover operation aimed at purchasing narcotics from distributors to combat the surge in opioid-related overdoses in Austin. During the operation, an undercover officer was able to purchase a substance believed to be crack cocaine, which later tested positive for fentanyl. Additionally, bags of suspected marijuana were found during a search in connection with Rimijo's arrest.
The Austin Police Department received over 70 opioid overdose calls within a 72-hour period, with at least seven deaths suspected to be linked to overdoses. However, the suspects have not been charged in connection with these recent overdoses or deaths.
Nationwide, the drug overdose crisis continues to claim tens of thousands of lives annually. Recent estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics indicate that approximately 112,024 individuals died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending in May 2023, marking an increase from the previous year.
These arrests coincide with National Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 7, as federal officials aim to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and opioid abuse. Opioids, both legal and illegal, have been significant contributors to the overdose epidemic, with substances like heroin and illicitly made fentanyl posing severe risks to public health.
