2 Men Charged In LBI Heroin Overdose: Cops

Two men have been charged in connection with a heroin overdose in Ocean County, police announced this weekend.

Levi Brown, 32, of Egg Harbor Township and Ronald Parrish, 62, of Pleasantville were the source of the heroin that caused a Ship Bottom man to die, police said Saturday.

The incident happened on April 15 when Ship Bottom Police responded to a residence on a report that a 40-year-old man had overdosed, police said.

Brown and Parrish were arrested after a joint investigation by the Ship Bottom Police Department and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office detectives, police said. Police say they were responsible for the sale of the heroin used by the victim.

Both suspects were lodged in Ocean County Jail. Brown and Parrish were both charged with:

• Strict liability for a drug-induced death
• Manufacturing and distribution of heroin
• Possession of heroin

This is the second time that Brown is charged under the strict liability statute. In 2009, he was charged under the then-new law, police said.

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.

Ship Bottom police photo