Portsmouth Police Investigating Another Overdose Death

The Portsmouth Police Department is investigating another reported heroin overdose in the city, according to a statement from police.

According to Capt. Mike Schwartz, police were sent to a report of screaming coming from the Gosling Meadows neighborhood at around 1:30 a.m. on June 15, 2015. When they arrived, they found a man, later identified as Joseph Cahill, 27, unconscious and not breathing.

“Lifesaving efforts by the patrol officers and the Fire Department who also responded were unsuccessful,” Schwartz said. “Joseph Cahill was pronounced dead at the scene.”

According to Seacoastonline.com, five people “worked really hard to save him,” according to Portsmouth Fire Chief James Heinz.

Cahill, he noted, was not a resident of the Portsmouth Housing Authority and police and the state’s medical examiner’s office are investigating this as a heroin overdose. This is the fifth heroin overdose in the city during the past few months, according to posts on Patch.

Cahill worked at Jumpin’ Jay’s Restaurant in Portsmouth and was “well liked, known for his big heart and loved spending time with his family,” according to his obituary posted on Seacoastonline.com.

If anyone has any information relating to this case is urged to contact Detective Josh McCain at 603-610-7513 or by anonymously calling Crime Stoppers at 431-1199 or 207-439-1199, or the website at seacoastcrimestoppers.org.