The Arcata Police Department is investigating the fourth possible overdose death in the city since Wednesday.
The APD issued a press release at midday today with information on the deaths, saying it was intended ‘to inform members of the community of recent deaths in Arcata which may be related to drug ingestion dangerous, including fentanyl”.
At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the department responded to a call for two people – a 45-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman – who were found dead in a tent in Carson Park. About 10 minutes later, the department received a report of a 54-year-old man “overdosing” on Samoa Boulevard, and the man later died at a local hospital.
Then, at 3:39 a.m. today, the department was notified of a dead body inside a hotel room and responded to find a 45-year-old woman who was not breathing and had no pulse. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Toxicology tests on the four people are pending, according to the APD, which added “there were no obvious signs of trauma, no signs of struggle and no indication of foul play”.
“This investigation, the scope of which may change with new information, is ongoing,” the ODA press release said. “Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Chris Ortega at [email protected] or (707) 822-2428 x1142.”
See the full press release copied below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APD REPORTS FOURTH DEATH IN SEVERAL DAYS
On Sunday, April 24, 2022 at approximately 3:39 a.m., the Arcata Police Department received a call from a body in a local hotel room and that the flagman needed “police now”. APD officers located a woman of approximately 45 years old in a room. The female was not breathing and had no pulse. Officers performed CPR, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
This is the fourth death in Arcata in recent days in which there were indications that drugs may have been ingested. On Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at approximately 4:01 p.m., the Arcata Police Department received a call from two people inside a tent at Carlson Park who may have died. APD officers located the tent and inside were a man around 45 and a woman around 64, both deceased. At 4:11 p.m. that same day, the Arcata Police Department received a call from a 54-year-old man who was overdosing at 1680 Samoa Boulevard. Despite lifesaving measures, the man died at a local hospital.
In all four deaths, there were no obvious signs of trauma, no signs of struggle, and no indication of foul play. Toxicological results are awaited and could take several weeks. The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office responded to each scene and took custody of the four deceased. The publication of this information is intended to inform members of the community of recent deaths in Arcata that may be related to the ingestion of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl. This investigation, the scope of which may change with new information, is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Chris Ortega at [email protected] or (707) 822-2428 x1142.
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