Man Charged With Berkeley Male's Heroin-Induced Death: OCPO

BERKELEY, N.J. — A man was charged with providing drugs to a Berkeley man who died with fentanyl in his system, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday. Charles Rice, 58, of Lacey, was charged with the drug-induced death, officials said.

An unnamed 25-year-old man was found dead in a Berkeley home April 19. Investigation revealed Rice sold him a heroin and fentanyl mixture, the OCPO said. Rice was charged with heroin distribution and possession, according to officials.

Toxicology results confirmed this week revealed fentanyl in the victim's system, the OCPO said. The OCPO and Berkeley police arrested Rice at a Lacey home. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The presence of fentanyl in opioid-related deaths continues to rise at an alarming rate, the OCPO said.

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