Heroin Overdose Victim's Texts Lead To Bridgeport Man's Arrest

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- A Bridgeport man has been charged with selling heroin to a local man who later died from an overdose after being tracked down through the victim's iPhone texts, according to Deirdre M. Daly, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Darryck Norris, 23, was arrested Wednesday on a criminal complaint.
Photo Credit: *Wikimedia Commons*

K Reakes

11/03/2016 6:00 p.m.

Darryck Norris, 23, was arrested Wednesday on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin, Daily said.

The charges stem from an incident on Thursday, Oct. 27, in which Milford Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in Milford and found an unresponsive 37-year-old man slumped over in the downstairs living area of the home, the criminal compliant said.

Emergency personnel attempted lifesaving measures and administered two doses of the opiate antidote Narcan, which had no effect. The victim was declared dead at the scene, the compliant stated.

Officers searched the immediate area and seized four empty baggies and one full baggy that contained suspected heroin. Each of the bags was stamped with the same brand stamp, Daly said.

Officers also seized the victim’s iPhone. The complaint alleges that text messages contained on the victim’s iPhone revealed that the victim had ordered heroin from Norris earlier that day.

Witness interviews and further cellphone analysis revealed that the victim had purchased heroin from Norris for several months prior to the victim’s overdose, Daly added.

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Milford Police Department conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Norris in Bridgeport. The heroin bags purchased were stamped with the same stamp that was found on the bags seized from the overdose victim’s residence, the complaint said.

Norris appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam and was released into a residential drug treatment program.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin, carries a maximum term of 20 years in jail.

The case is being investigated by the DEA's Bridgeport Office, the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the Milford and Bridgeport Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

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