A day of bargain hunting at the flea market ended in chaos when a woman came home to find her boyfriend overdosed and slumped over in his truck — blue-faced, drooling, and nearly unresponsive.
Deputy Wes Barker and another officer responded within one minute of the 911 call, arriving at the scene to find the woman screaming at her boyfriend while holding an uncapped syringe in her hand. The man was seated in a white Avalanche truck parked in her driveway.
🧪 What Went Down:
- The woman told deputies she found the needle on the console and that her boyfriend was blue in the face and drooling.
- She admitted she was furious, shouting obscenities at him for overdosing as officers approached.
- The man said they had gone to a Kentucky flea market and returned separately — he came home while she went to pick up pizza.
- He admitted using what he thought was heroin but feared might’ve been fentanyl or something stronger.
- Officers observed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle — a soda bottle cap with fluid and cotton, a silver hollow tube with residue, and fresh injection marks on his left arm.
- Despite clear signs of overdose, he refused transport to the hospital.
💉 Not His First Time — But Almost His Last
Although the man claimed he had a history of substance abuse, he told deputies this was his first actual overdose. Officers provided him with a state-issued overdose pamphlet, instructed him on the legal requirement to get a medical assessment within 30 days, and offered help through the Quick Response Team (QRT) — which he declined.
Instead, he contacted Valley Health himself, requesting an appointment with a doctor he had worked with in the past. His girlfriend signed a statement, and deputies safely disposed of the uncapped syringe in a sharps container. They also left Narcan with her in case he overdoses again.
The man left with a friend, planning to stay elsewhere for the night.
🚫 Overdose Reality Check:
- Fentanyl-laced street drugs are deadly. Even long-time users can misjudge a dose.
- Always carry Narcan — it’s fast, effective, and legal to administer in Ohio.
- If someone overdoses on your property, call 911 immediately. Good Samaritan laws protect you.
- Getting mad won’t save them. Narcan might.
- Follow up matters. An overdose survivor in Ohio must get a medical assessment within 30 days or risk legal consequences.
Bottom line: This overdose could have ended in a fatality — but thanks to fast response and a second chance, it didn’t. Let’s hope next time, there won’t be a next time.