Manslaughter Charge Filed In Pasadena Overdose Death

PASADENA, MD — A three-month investigation into the death of a Pasadena man who died from a heroin overdose ended with involuntary manslaughter charges against the man who allegedly sold the fatal drug. Anne Arundel County Police on Dec. 29 charged Zachariah Alle Caldwell, 26, of the 200 block of Meadow Road in Pasadena, with involuntary manslaughter, distribution of heroin, and possession of heroin.

Authorities say that officers were called to a fatal overdose on Oct. 8 in that same Pasadena neighborhood. Police found Jared Weddle, 28, who had died from an apparent heroin overdose. Investigators identified Caldwell as the suspect that sold the fatal heroin overdose to the victim.

On Dec. 4, detectives submitted charges to the Anne Arundel County Court Commissioner charging Caldwell. He was located last week and placed under arrest.

Police spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure said that the county has so far noted 1,087 overdoses in 2017, with 154 of those fatalities. About 25 cases for the year are still pending a final determination as an overdose death as police wait for toxicology results from the state medical examiner's office.

In comparison, in 2016 the county tallied a total of 934 drug overdoses in 2016, and 119 of those were fatalities, Frashure said.

Caldwell is at least the third person charged following an overdose death in Anne Arundel County in 2017. In October 2017 authorities charged a Baltimore man with providing the fentanyl that caused the overdose death in January of a 27-year-old Pasadena man. Gabriel DelValle, 37, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and related charges, according to Anne Arundel County Police.

In the third case, an Odenton woman was charged with murder in the death of a woman who overdosed on heroin, but that charge was dropped and manslaughter charges may be filed in the case, according to a report by The Baltimore Sun. Gennie Rae Peterson, 45, of Chapelgate Drive in Odenton, was initially charged with murder and drug crimes on Nov. 30 in the death of Dawn Marie Laster of Odenton.

Authorities allege Peterson sold Dawn Marie Laster a mix of heroin and fentanyl, which led to her fatal overdose on March 6. Police recommended that Peterson be charged with involuntary manslaughter, and Assistant State's Attorney Caitlin Robinson said the office will review the case with plans to consider charging her with involuntary manslaughter, the Sun reports.

"These charges demonstrate Anne Arundel County's commitment to making our jurisdiction a nightmare for drug dealers," County Executive Steve Schuh said in a statement announcing DelValle's arrest. "I thank all our public safety professionals who have demonstrated through these charges we will punish to the fullest extent of the law those who peddle poison in our communities."

Photo of Zachariah Alle Caldwell, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police