Police: Off Duty Long Beach Cop Finds Man Who Caused Heroin Overdose

An off duty Long Beach officer spotted and arrested a man on Monday who was wanted for injecting another man with heroin and causing him to overdose, according to Long Beach Police.

Police said James Walsh, 30, caused a man to overdose after injecting him with heroin.

Long Beach officers were called to Shore Road on July 14 for a report of an unresponsive person outside in the rain, cops said. Responding officer Steven Wildes recognized their condition as an overdose and immediately administered the antidote Narcan, which revived the victim, cops said.

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Detectives concluded that another person, determined to be Walsh, had administered heroin to the victim, cops said.

On Monday, off duty LBPD Narcotics Officer Michael Popper spotted Walsh on East Park Avenue and arrested him, police said.

While in custody, police said they discovered Walsh was also wanted by the Nassau County and New York City police departments on unrelated charges.

“These circumstances outline the synergistic approach our Department takes in combating heroin, the first responder,” said Commissioner Michael Tangney. “Officer Wildes saved this person’s life with Narcan. The detectives then ascertained the events leading up to the overdose and while off duty, narcotics officer Popper made the arrest. I’m very proud of the efforts put forth in this case.”

Walsh was arraigned and remanded at Long Beach City Court before he was transferred to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department.

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