Austin's Deadly Drug Overdose Crisis: Surge in Opioid Incidents Leaves 9 Dead, Suspects Arrested

Austin, Texas, has been grappling with an unprecedented surge in drug overdoses, resulting in nine fatalities last week. Police have arrested six individuals in connection with the distribution of narcotics allegedly linked to the overdoses. However, authorities emphasize that none of the suspects in custody have been directly connected to the victims' deaths.

Austin, Texas, is reeling from a spate of nearly 80 drug overdoses that left nine people dead last week, prompting concerns about a potentially deadly batch of narcotics circulating in the community. Police have swiftly responded by arresting six individuals believed to be involved in the distribution of controlled substances.

The Austin Police Department arrested 45-year-old Ronnie Lamar Mims, 30-year-old Marcellus Dion Barron, 32-year-old Kanady Arkangelo Rimijo, 50-year-old Gary Joseph Lewis, 47-year-old Denise Horton, and 27-year-old Guy Len Allen. All six individuals have been charged with felony possession or delivery of a controlled substance, according to court documents obtained by FOX 7 Austin.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Austin Police Department Lt. Patrick Eastlick clarified that none of the arrested suspects have been directly linked to the fatal overdoses. However, he emphasized that the arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into the surge in drug activity and overdoses.

On April 29, emergency personnel responded to a staggering number of opioid-related calls, a significant departure from the typical two to three calls per day. By the end of the week, the number of overdose calls had climbed to 80, resulting in at least nine deaths.

"We haven't seen a spike in overdoses of any kind like this since we dealt with K2 in 2015," said Austin-Travis County EMS Capt. Christa Stedman.

In response to the crisis, targeted undercover investigations were launched by the Austin Police Department's Organized Crime Division, Narcotics Support Unit, and other divisions. The investigations focused on areas with higher overdose incidents, including downtown, North Austin, and South Austin.

The investigations led to multiple arrests, but Eastlick emphasized that none of those arrested during the operations were connected to the overdoses.

"The purpose of these operations was to try to identify dealers responsible and the sources of the narcotics which caused the overdoses," Eastlick said.

Investigators believe that fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, may have been mixed into illicit drugs, leading to the spike in overdoses. Fentanyl has been increasingly detected in drugs like crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

"It is concerning to us, not only with marijuana, but with all the substances that are being mixed with fentanyl. And it’s a concern that all people should have when consuming illicit narcotics," Eastlick said.

Investigators suggest that dealers may be mixing fentanyl with crack cocaine to increase volume and profit margins. However, these mixtures are often done outside of controlled laboratory settings, leading to inconsistent concentrations of fentanyl in the drugs.

"Potentially too much fentanyl…got mixed in with the substances and caused the overdoses that we saw," Eastlick said.

Arrested suspect Ronnie Lamar Mims was allegedly found with fentanyl-laced cocaine in his pants after Narcan was administered to a man he was with. Mims has been charged with third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance.

Gary Joseph Lewis and Denise Horton were arrested after being found in a car with baggies of drugs, which they are accused of distributing. Marijuana inside the vehicle tested positive for fentanyl, resulting in their arrest and second-degree felony fentanyl possession charges.

Kanady Arkangelo Rimijo and Marcellus Dion Barron were arrested for selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer. Marijuana found in Rimijo's possession also tested positive for fentanyl. Rimijo faces a first-degree felony delivery of a controlled substance charge, while Barron faces a second-degree felony delivery of a controlled substance charge.

The sixth suspect, Guy Len Allen, was arrested after allegedly participating in a drug deal with a homeless person. Officers found meth-laced marijuana inside his car near a day school, leading to a first-degree felony possession with intent to distribute charge.

Lt. Eastlick urged the public to report any suspicious activities and encouraged those involved in drug sales to cease their actions.

"Stop. Stop spreading the poison that’s affecting our community," Eastlick said.

The Austin-Travis County EMS reported that opioid overdoses returned to normal levels on Monday, but police could not confirm whether the tainted drugs had left the city.

Both the Austin Police Department and Austin-Travis County EMS have not yet responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. The investigation into the deadly drug overdoses in Austin continues, with authorities determined to identify and hold accountable those responsible for distributing the dangerous narcotics.