Possible Drug Death on North Spring Street

Concord Police investigators have been at a North Spring Street apartment since last night investigating a possible drug overdose that led to the death of a 47-year-old woman.

According to Lt. Timothy O’Malley, the commander of the criminal investigations division for the Concord Police Department, Concord Fire and Rescue teams were called to 32 N. Spring St. on Feb. 23, for a possible overdose. Police were called in while EMTs transported her to Concord Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead at 11:45 p.m. Police are not releasing her name.

After seeing “some of the indicators at the scene,” according to O’Malley, police applied for and received a search warrant to look for evidence and secure the location of the overdose. Investigators have been at the building since early afternoon today, according to residents who live on North Spring Street.

“It’s a suspected drug overdose,” O'Malley said, “and an open investigation.”

O’Malley said that department is attempting to “establish probably cause” and “will explore every avenue” to arrest and get an indictment on the person or people who sold or gave the drugs to the woman, if toxicology reports point to substance use as the cause of the death. It could be weeks or months before that is determined, he said. 

“We want our message out there, as the Concord Police Department, that we are going to pursue it to the fullest extent of the law,” O’Malley said. “At this point (though), we’re investigating a possible suspicious death.”

O’Malley wouldn’t comment on what information about the woman they had or whether she was a resident or visitor at the building that is a known magnet for police activity. Officers are sent to the building regularly and a number of its residents and visitors have been arrested on assault and other charges, according to numerous Patch police reports.

Police statement, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 24:

On February 23, 2014 at approximately 11:10 PM, officers from the Concord Police Department responded to 32 North Spring St. for a report of an unresponsive adult female. Upon arrival officers met with members of the Concord Fire Department who were actively attempting to revive the female.

The female, identified only as a 47-year old, was subsequently transported to Concord Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.  

Based on initial observations the police suspect that the cause of death is possibly drug related. Detectives have executed a search warrant at the address in question and an investigation is ongoing.

If any member of the public has information that might assist police in their investigation, please call the Concord Police Department at 603-225-8600 or the Concord Regional Crimeline, at 603-226-3100.