POLICE FEAR TAINTED DRUGS CAUSE IN 2 DEATHS

Birmingham police launched an investigation into two mysterious deaths
within hours of each other Monday possibly the result of extraordinarily
potent street drugs or drugs laced with poison.

One man was found dead in his pickup truck in a western Birmingham
neighborhood, a syringe still protruding from his left hand. Three hours
later, another man was found dead in an eastern-area hotel room, a syringe
beneath him along with other drug tools.

"It is highly unusual to have two deaths with similar circumstances," said
Birmingham Police Chief Mike Coppage. "We want the public to be made aware
of the possibility that such drugs may be on the streets and urge them to
exercise extreme caution."

Police found the first victim just before 9 a.m. in the 1700 block of
Decatur Avenue, just minutes from his home. David Andrew Brown, 45, was
slumped over in his pickup truck, a needle in his hand and a spoon and
lighter nearby drug tools often used to cook whatever the user is going to
inject.

Officers then were called to the Days Inn on Airport Highway at 12:20 p.m.
after someone found a man dead inside a hotel room. Coppage said a
hypodermic syringe was beneath the dead man along with other drug
paraphernalia. Authorities had not determined his identity Monday evening.

"It would appear that the deaths, if not instantaneous, were very rapid,
which is unusual," Coppage said.

The chief said the drug appeared to be heroin, but he said state toxicology
investigators were placing a priority on the testing and should have
preliminary results today.

"It will depend on the amount of residue left in the syringe. In one
syringe, there appears to be something left in it," Coppage said. "In the
second, there was nothing in it so he had time to inject the entire syringe."

Coppage said homicide investigators Monday evening were canvassing friends
and relatives to try to determine the source of the drugs and whether the
two men might have bought from the same seller.

The chief said detectives are working from three theories in the deaths:
routine overdose, drugs tainted with something like strychnine or rat
poison, or a "hot shot," in which the strength is so high that it kills. "A
hot shot is where the potency is stronger than the people are normally used
too," Coppage said. "They're used to using a certain amount and mixing it
in a certain way and by using less of a cutting agent, they're going to get
an overdose."

Coppage said he's never seen anything like the circumstances around
Monday's deaths and said he was alerting police agencies in nearby cities
in the event they run across similar deaths.

The chief also acknowledged it is uncommon to caution drug users about
shooting up safely.

"It is probably unusual, but there's the potential that people out there
are getting bad stuff and certainly our concern is with public safety,"
Coppage said. "If you are using drugs illegally, be sure you know what your
source is. Trust your dealer if you want to take chances."