Crime & Safety
Carfentanil Supplier In Phoenixville Fatal Overdose Stands Trial
A man who supplied heroin laced with carfentanil to a dealer, leading to the overdose death of a Phoenixville man, is headed to trial.
PHOENIXVILLE, PA -- A Phoenixville man will head to trial for supplying a dealer with heroin laced with the elephant tranquilizer carfentanil, which was then dealt to a victim who overdosed and died.
Malik Grasty, 25, will face the criminal homicide charge of drug delivery resulting in death in connection with the incident, which led to the death of a 34-year-old Phoenixville resident in July.
Grasty is being charged alongside a co-conspirator, Damon Eskridge, 20, who was arrested shortly after the incident.
Find out what's happening in Phoenixvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The case marked the first carfentanil overdose in Chester County. Carfentanil has been described as 10,000 times deadlier than heroin, and 100 times deadlier than fentanyl, a drug responsible for many local overdose deaths.
>>Carfentanil: What You Should Know About The Deadly New Opioid Sweeping Across PA
Find out what's happening in Phoenixvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Police found the 34-year-old victim dead in his Second Avenue home in Phoenixville on July 4. A toxicology report later revealed carfentanil in his blood stream.
A search of his home revealed numerous empty heroin bags labeled "New Arrival," "Chapo," and "Wells Fargo," and a search of his cell phone connected them to "Kevin D." - Eskridge - the man's dealer, authorities said.
Police arranged for Eskridge to deliver a bundle of heroin to the corner of St. Mary's Street and South Street in Phoenixville. Eskridge arrived and was arrested. He was carrying bags of heroin identical to those found in the victim's home.
Police discovered that Eskridge's connection was Grasty. Grasty was arrested Aug. 22 and a handgun with a filed-off serial number was also discovered at his Phoenixville residence.
A preliminary hearing for both drug and gun charges was held on Nov. 8, and a trial is set for Chester County Common Pleas Court.
Known on the street as "gray death," carfentanil poses a severe risk to first responders, who could face deadly consequences if they come into contact with the drug.
A few grains of salt is enough of the substance to lead to overdose.
Anyone with further information should contact Phoenixville Police at 610-933-8801.
Image via Phoenixville Police Department
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