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A joint operation between the Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force and the Washington County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Division culminated in the apprehension of a 26-year-old resident of Racine, Wisconsin. The arrest was made on Thursday and is linked to a suspected case of fentanyl overdose that tragically resulted in the loss of life in the village of Kewaskum on the previous day.
A man from Racine has been charged with organizing a drug transaction that took place late on Tuesday evening, according to authorities. The accused individual traveled from Racine to the Village of Kewaskum for the purpose of conducting the drug deal. Sadly, the victim involved in this incident is believed to have passed away shortly after. While the official cause of the victim's death is yet to be determined pending autopsy results, preliminary findings strongly suggest that fentanyl may have played a role.
The Village of Kewaskum Police Department sought the assistance of the Washington County Sheriff's Office in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Investigators from the Sheriff's Office were called upon to aid in the ongoing investigation.
In this particular instance, the fentanyl was illicitly distributed in the form of counterfeit oxycodone tablets. These forged pills are distinguishable by their blue color and distinct markings: an "M" imprint on one side and a "30" imprint on the other. Counterfeit medications of this nature frequently contain perilous quantities of fentanyl or methamphetamine, rendering them highly hazardous. This is compounded by the fact that they often bear an uncanny resemblance to genuine prescription drugs, making it difficult for users to discern their lethal potential upon initial inspection. Alarming as it is, the suspect in this case went so far as to boast about the potency of these falsified pills to the victim prior to their sale. Regrettably, such occurrences have become ominously widespread within our community.
The individual from Racine, Wisconsin, involved in this incident is currently not being named, as formal charges against him have yet to be made. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, where a bond hearing will take place. The reason behind the delay in charging him is the need for investigators to conduct a thorough examination of the matter, ensuring all necessary evidence is gathered before forwarding the appropriate charges to the Washington County District Attorney's Office.
This investigation is only in its infancy, but future charges could include delivery of fentanyl and reckless homicide.
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis hopes that this arrest made a day and a half after the death will send a message to those who think about bringing these dangerous drugs into the Washington County community. “In less than 48 hours we were able to identify the suspect, track him down in Racine, and arrest him. This is the type of tenacity that this agency will bring to those who bring fentanyl into our community.”
We would also like to thank the Racine County Sheriff's Office and the Kewaskum Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
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