2 arrested after suspected ODs
A suspected double overdose landed two people behind bars, authorities said.
City police said they found both Lili M. Szymecki, 36, of Butler and Richard J. Dortman, 56, who has no known address, unconscious on the sidewalk shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of West Brady Street.
A 911 caller had reported a man and woman being dragged from a home and placed on the sidewalk.
Both appeared to have overdosed, police said. Patrolman Kory Fleming administered the opioid antidote Narcan to Dortman, according to documents. Butler Ambulance Service paramedics arrived and took over medical care. Szymecki and Dortman were both revived with Narcan.
Police said they learned both were wanted on warrants. A search of Szymecki's purse turned up 50 stamp bags of suspected heroin, one bag of suspected cocaine, four drug-smoking pipes and two spoons, documents said. Dortman was found with four stamp bags and 10 empty bags of suspected heroin, a small baggie of suspected marijuana, and a used syringe.
While the defendants were being booked at Butler County Prison, police said a correctional officer found an additional bag and an empty bag of suspected heroin in Szymecki's sock. She was arraigned Wednesday on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and smuggling contraband into prison. She also is charged with two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.
Szymecki also was arraigned on charges in connection with a warrant stemming from an Oct. 2 incident. Officers got a call about 6:30 p.m. for an intoxicated woman leaning against a utility pole at West Brady Street and Wagner Avenue, according to court documents. Police say Szymecki gave a fake name before providing her true identity and admitted that she was wanted on a bench warrant. Police confirmed the warrant and searched Szymecki, who was found with two stamp bags and an empty bag of suspected heroin and a spoon, documents said. She is charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and false identification to law enforcement authorities. She is in county prison on a combined $105,000 bail in both cases.Dortman was arraigned Wednesday on two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia. He is in the county prison on $10,000 bail. He also is being held on warrants for failing to appear at court hearings in connection with unrelated cases of driving under the influence of drugs.
