CINCINNATI -- Authorities arrested a man who they said was responsible for four overdoses, including two that were fatal.
Four friends bought what they thought was cocaine. On Aug. 16, they used the substance, which had been spiked with fentanyl, and all overdosed, according to the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition Task Force. Two of them died.
"When four of them overdose and two of them die that makes it a really unique case," Norwood Police Commander Tom Fallon said.
A tip led investigators to Antwan Reliford, 28. Police said he supplied the four with the drugs.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Reliford's Winton Terrace home earlier this month and discovered that he had fled the state, authorities said. He was arrested on a bus in the Louisville area earlier this week.
Fallon said Reliford admitted to selling the drugs, but not to knowing it was mixed with fentanyl.
"I'm sure that people will be incredible grateful that the heroin task force was able to put some closure to this," he said.
Fallon said he hopes that no matter how many overdoses people see, they won't stop fighting for justice.
"I think the message to parents is, the parents who have lost people, who have people struggling with addiction: their life matters," he said.
Reliford is currently being held in the Oldham County jail. He's expected in court after Thanksgiving.
