Trenton Man Linked To Burlington County Overdose Death: Police

A Mercer County man has been arrested and charged with selling heroin to a Burlington County man who subsequently died of a fatal overdose, authorities announced.

Darius Beckett, 29, of Trenton, was arrested at his home Wednesday morning by members of the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department Warrant Unit, the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Mansfield Township Police Department and the Edgewater Park Township Police Department, according to authorities.

He was charged in connection with the fatal overdose of a Mansfield Township man that happened last summer, according to Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Mansfield Township Police Chief Ronald Mulhall.

Police responded to a home in the Columbus section of the township for a report of an unresponsive man on Aug. 12, 2018, police said. Arriving officers discovered the man in his bedroom with a hypodermic needle near his body.

An ensuing investigation determined the man bought the heroin that killed him from Beckett, police said.

Beckett is charged with first-degree strict liability for drug-induced death, third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and third-degree making terroristic threats.

Beckett faces a detention hearing next week in Superior Court in Mount Holly. The case will then be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment.

The attached image of Darius Beckett was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.