4 Heroin ODs At Same House In This N.J. Town; 2 Busted

Two people were busted this week after four people overdosed at the same house near two schools in a New Jersey town, police said.

Julie E. Taylor, 42, and Robert J. Agresta, 53, both of Newton, were charged after the four people overdosed over a period of six hours on Tuesday. Halsted Street Middle School and St. Joseph's School are blocks away from the site.

The overdoses and previous reports of drug activity at the residence helped detectives from the Newton Police Department and the Sussex County Guns, Gangs & Narcotics Task Force develop information to conduct a cooperative investigation into the distribution of heroin, police said.

Detectives gathered intelligence and interviewed witnesses which led to a search of the Newton house.

Here is what happened:

• At 2:07 pm, police responded to a Halsted Street residence in Newton for a report of an unconscious male. Patrol Officers observed a 32-year-old male to be unconscious, unresponsive and in respiratory distress in a room while displaying physical signs and symptoms that were consistent with a heroin overdose. As a result, responding patrols administered Naloxone (Narcan) and performed rescue breathing. Subsequently, the man was transported to the Newton Medical Center for further treatment by the Newton First Aid Squad, police said. Paramedics from St. Clare’s also assisted at scene.
• While rendering first aid to the 32-year-old male, officers were alerted to another man in the house who was reported to be suffering from a seizure. Patrol officers found a 31-year-old male unconscious and unresponsive in the hallway while displaying physical signs and symptoms that were consistent with a heroin overdose, police said As a result, Patrol Officers administered Naloxone (Narcan) and performed rescue breathing. He was given oxygen and placed in the recovery position as he regained consciousness. He was then transported to the Newton Medical Center by Newton First Aid Squad. Paramedics from St. Clare’s also assisted at scene.
• At 6:49 pm, Newton Police responded to the same Halsted Street residence as earlier in the day for a report of an unconscious male. Upon arrival at the scene, Patrol Officers found a 28-year-old male unconscious, unresponsive and in respiratory distress in a bathtub in a bathroom while displaying physical signs and symptoms that were consistent with a heroin overdose. As a result, responding patrols administered Naloxone (Narcan) and performed rescue breathing. Subsequently, the male was transported to the Newton Medical Center by Newton First Aid Squad.
• At 8:34 pm, Newton Police were called back to the same Halsted Street residence as earlier in the day and the evening for a report of an unconscious female. Upon arrival at the scene, Patrol Officers found a 47-year-old female unconscious, unresponsive and in respiratory distress in a room while displaying physical signs and symptoms that were consistent with a heroin overdose. As a result, responding patrols administered Naloxone (Narcan) and performed rescue breathing. Subsequently, the female was transported to the Newton Medical Center by Newton First Aid Squad.

Taylor and Agresta face a number of charges, including possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in a school zone.

Agresta

Taylor

Judge James Devine authorized the issuance of the arrest warrants for Taylor and Agresta. Both were processed and pursuant to the Bail Reform Law, both were lodged in the Sussex County Jail pending a hearing concerning their release and/or release conditions to be ordered by the Court.

The investigation was conducted by officers from the Newton Police Department’s Patrol Division, Detective Bureau, and Detectives from the Sussex County Guns, Gangs, and Narcotics Task Force. All overdose victims were provided referral information about the Sussex County C.L.E.A.R. Program.

Sussex County Jail photos