Three Wesleyan Arrestees Arraigned in Molly Overdose Case

Pictured: Top left Eric Lonergan, top right Andrew Olsen, bottom left Rama Agha Al Kakib and bottom right Zachary Kramer.

Three Wesleyan University students were arraigned on drug charges Wednesday afternoon after a mass “Molly” party drug overdose at Wesleyan University sent a dozen people to the hospital.

A total of four students have been arrested in connection with the case.

Two students remained in the hospital as of late Tuesday night, but were reportedly making progress in their recovery, according to an email sent out by university President Michael Roth. The rest have been treated and released.

The three students arraigned were neuroscience majors, according to NBC Connecticut. Andrew Olson, 20, started the Wesleyan chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Ten of the overdose victims were students and two were guests, according to the Wesleyan Argus newspaper.

Police believe that those who overdosed consumed a bad batch of MDMA, also known as “Molly” on Feb. 22.

MDMA or Molly, causes “increased energy, euphoria, emotional warmth and empathy toward others, and distortions in sensory and time perception,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“This particular batch may have had a mixture of several kinds of designer drug chemicals, making the health risks unpredictable and treatment to combat the effects, complex and problematic,” said Police Chief William McKenna.

The State of Connecticut Forensics Science Laboratory has been involved since the onset of the investigation and are attempting to find the specific chemicals used in the batch that caused the overdose.

The prestigious liberal arts university is located in Middletown, Conn. and is known for many notable alumni including New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and filmmakers Michael Bay and Joss Whedon. President Woodrow Wilson was a faculty member as well.

The arrestees were all in custody as of 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Eric Lonergan, 21, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was arrested by police at the Buddhist House on Wesleyan University, Rama Agha Al Kakib, 20 of Lutherville, Md. was arrested on Warren Avenue and Zachary Kramer, 21, of Bethesda Md. was charged at Hartford Hospital while visiting an ill friend, according to police reports.

Police also arrested Andrew Olson, 20, of Atascadero, Calif., but didn’t specify where he was found.

Police executed four search and seizure warrants in and around the campus in an effort to locate potential evidence.

“Members of the Middletown Police Department’s Major Investigations Unit, Narcotics unit and members of our Patrol Division have worked around the clock since the numerous Wesleyan University campus overdoses from this past weekend were reported,” McKenna said.

Police are also working with the Middlesex County States Attorney office and public safety officials at Wesleyan University.

The following people were arrested.

• Eric Lonergan, 21, of Rio de Janeiro Brazil was charged with possession of a controlled substance and 16 counts of supplying illegal drugs.

• Andrew Olson, 20, of Atascadero, Calif. was charged with two counts of possession of a hallucinogen, sale of a hallucinogen, possession of less than .5 ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Zachary Kramer, 21, of Bethesda Md. was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a regulated substance and possession of less than .5 ounce of marijuana.

• Rama Agha Al Kakib, 20 of Lutherville, Md. was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Related

• Middletown Police Looking Into Molly Drug Source
• UPDATE: 11 Wesleyan Students Sent to Hospital; Possibly Overdosed on Drug Molly