Delco Man Sold Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Heroin That Killed One: DA

MEDIA, PA – A Colwyn Borough man is facing numerous charges related to a deadly batch of fentanyl-laced heroin that left a 28-year-old Chester man dead in April 2017, according to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office.

District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland and Chester Police Department Commissioner Otis Blair announced Monday, June 11 the arrest of Raheem Harper, 28, of Colwyn in connection with the overdose death.

This marks the second such arrest made by the DA's office and local authorities in a week, as a Chester woman was arrested and charged on June 5 for allegedly selling a fatal batch of drugs to a Parkside man.

Harper is charged with felony drug delivery resulting in death, felony delivery of a controlled substance, felony unlawful use of a communication facility, tampering with physical evidence, and involuntary manslaughter, the DA's office said. The drug delivery death offense carries a statutory maximum of 20 to 40 years in state prison.

Harper's arrest comes at the conclusion of an investigation – launched after the April 19, 2017 death – conducted by Detective Corporal Steven Byrne of the Chester Police Department and Detective Timothy Deery of the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division (CID), the DA's office said.

At about noon on April 21, 2017, Chester Police and Crozer Chester Medical Center medics responded to a home on the 1500 block of Edgmont Avenue in Chester where a 28-year-old male was found and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the DA.

Responders found next to the victim one hypodermic needle and the remains of a used bag of suspected heroin. Additionally, five small packets with suspected heroin stamped "Hurricane” were found in the victim's pants pockets, the DA said.

Investigators tested the suspected drugs and identified them as a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, the DA's office said. The Delaware County Medical Examiner conducted a post-mortem examination on the victim and ruled the cause of death as multiple drug intoxication, specifically fentanyl and heroin, according to the DA's office.

Harper was arrested in Tinicum Township on April 12, 2017 during a traffic stop and was found to be in possession of cocaine and heroin, as well as with drug paraphernalia, according to the DA.

After searching Harper, police found 18 blue glassine packets of heroin, all stamped "Hurricane," identical to those found in the victim's pants pocket, the DA's office said.

Harper was released after posting bail, but then was arrested on May 6, 2017 during a drug investigation in Clifton Heights, when police found 1,500 bags of heroin in his possession, according to the DA.

Harper was sentenced in November 2017 five-and-a-half to 12 years in prison on those charges, the DA's office said.

As the result of a forensic examination of the victim’s cellphone found at the scene, it was established that Harper, going by the alias "Mark," was the drug dealer who delivered the deadly fentanyl-laced-heroin that resulted in the victim’s death, according to the DA's office.

Records show Harper delivered heroin to the victim on April 6, April 9, April 11, and finally on April 19, 2017, ultimately leading to the victim’s death. Further investigation revealed that during one of these deliveries, the victim traded Harper a PlayStation 4 for a few bags of heroin.

Harper will appear for his preliminary hearing on June 9, court records show.

"Fentanyl is a highly-addictive synthetic alternative to morphine and is used to treat pain in the terminally ill and the combination of fentanyl with heroin increases the potency of both drugs," Copeland said. "Once ingested, this deadly mixture creates a powerful high and often, sadly, causes immediate death. As our second arrest in a week for this type of charge, drug traffickers should know that when they sell these deadly drugs, they are facing a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison."

Individuals who have witnessed a drug deal in their neighborhood or suspect illegal drug activity can send tips to the Office of the District Attorney by calling (610) 891-4700. Tips can also be submitted online here.

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office