NEWPORT — Police say an overdose led to multiple arrests in Newport on Thursday.
At around 2:30 p.m. police received a report that a female who appeared to have overdosed was being dragged out of a home on Colodny Terrace and had been placed inside a white car by two males.
Police located a white car pulling out from the rear of the home with two males inside. The driver of the vehicle allegedly told police he was unaware of anyone overdosing, however, officers say they observed a bottle of the overdose reversal drug Narcan in the center console of the car.
Officers say they determined that Jacob McDonald, 33, of Newport, appeared to be under the influence of drugs and gave answers that conflicted with those the driver gave when questioned by police.
A K9 officer was brought in, which indicated the presence of narcotics in or around the vehicle.
Police say McDonald refused repeated commands to put his hands behind his back and began to struggle with officers. They also say Rebecca Sweeney, 32, of Newport, appeared and began yelling at officers to leave McDonald alone and hindered their efforts to take him into custody.
They were eventually able to subdue McDonald and say he had been holding heroin in his clenched hand.
Officers then attempted to take Sweeney into custody, but she also repeatedly resisted, police say.
According to police, McDonald had been in possession of 10 bags of heroin and drug paraphernalia.
The female originally reported to have been dragged out of the home had overdosed and was revived by Narcan prior to police arrival.
Additionally, police say Jeremy Bathalon, 28, of Newport, and Juliana Graves, 47, also of Newport, were arrested on outstanding warrants for their arrest.
Nice work to all involved. Next time you see a Law Enforcement Officer thank them for their efforts in helping people who can’t / won’t help themselves.
Ha ha.
Why was Becky released
Because it’s not illegal to overdose.
I think we all agree the Newport police did a remarkable job here – it was conducted in the face of great hindrance, despite them being called by a concerned member of the public, and a K9 was used to locate the evidence showing, once again, how very well trained canine officers are and how important their presence is at crime scenes. In cases like this (where selfish careless stupid people practice ‘dangerous behavior’ that leads to overdoses) I believe all those arrested should be charged with a) drug possession and b) wasting police time and get no less than 12 months inside a prison. I also believe the overdoser should be charged with possession and wasting police time and receive a 12 month sentence. The arrests of drug users; dealers, and those who overdose in Vermont should be handled not by the police – who have better things to do, but by a special task force of officers who like me have no sympathy with selfish druggies of any kind.