Man Arrested For Selling Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Pills

ARLINGTON, WA — In August 2018, a 33-year-old Sammamish man overdosed on counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. Now, deputies say they've caught the drug dealer who sold the pills that lead to his death.

According to deputies with the King County Sheriff's Office, officers managed to establish probable cause to arrest 45-year-old Christopher Hanson for the 2018 death earlier this month, and arrested Hanson in his Arlington home on May 21.

After searching the home deputies say they found several guns, including a shotgun and an "AR-15 style rifle" along with $30,000 in cash, and a hoard of pills including 150 Xanax pills and 842 of the same "M-30" counterfeit oxycodone pills that lead to the 2018 death. Deputies say Hanson had been arrested 44 times in the past, and is a five time convicted felon and therefore not allowed to possess firearms.

The Sheriff's Office says they're glad to finally get some fentanyl-laced pills out of circulation.

"“We have issued several warnings about these deadly M-30 pills,” said King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht. “Our Major Crimes detectives did an incredible job piecing this case together. We will take a hard stance against those dealing these dangerous drugs."

Hanson has been charged with controlled substance homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of controlled substances.

Local leaders say the arrest is a good reminder: fentanyl can kill even in small doses.

“I want people to be aware that these drugs, which look like pharmaceutical drugs, are potential killers." said King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg. "These counterfeit pills vary in strength, but even a small amount of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose. We don’t want any other families to suffer the heartache of losing a loved one."