COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Bartholomew County narcotics officers arrested a 19-year-old Columbus man they say is linked to a rash of heroin overdoses last year.
The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team says a months-long investigation led them to 19-year-old Cyrus P. Nida, who was arrested Tuesday evening on charges of dealing in narcotics and heroin, possession of heroin and possession of paraphernalia.
Investigators said they believe Nida traveled outside of Bartholomew County to obtain heroin, which he brought back and sold in the Columbus area. They say some of that heroin was part of a laced batch that resulted in at least nine overdoses in one weekend last September.
READ MORE | Multiple weekend overdoses prompt public safety announcement in Bartholomew Co.
Police executing a search warrant on Nida's residence reportedly found four grams of heroin, a handgun, a loaded shotgun and drug paraphernalia inside the residence. They also arrested a 17-year-old juvenile suspect as part of that search.
In addition to the warrant for Nida's arrest, JNET detectives arrested a third man, 31-year-old Joseph L. Leszcynski, on Tuesday as well.
Leszcynski faces charges of dealing a narcotic drug and possession of heroin.
All three suspects were booked into the Bartholomew County Jail without incident.
Another man police have linked to those Bartholomew Co. overdoses – 25-year-old Ryan Redmon – was arrested after he was found himself overdosed on heroin. Click here to read the full story.
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