TWO DEATHS PROBED FOR LINK TO KILLER HEROIN

CHESTER - Two deaths may be linked to a rash of bad heroin that has
sickened as many as 16 people and resulted in the arrest of 13 people
since Monday.

Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Fredric N. Hellman said he would
conduct two autopsies today on "two individuals where drug use is one
of the potential considerations," though definitive test results
could take weeks.

In the meantime, Chester Narcotics Sgt. Joseph Bail said on Thursday
that investigators have found a more potent brand of bad heroin -
which is heroin laced with fentanyl - in packages labeled "Takeover"
for sale on city streets. "This stuff is more like fentanyl laced
with heroin than the other way around," Bail said.

Two men were charged with dealing suspected heroin Thursday following
hours-long surveillance in the 900 block of Walnut Street on Thursday morning.

Bail identified the alleged dealers as [Name redacted], 44, of the
2800 block of North 12th Street in Philadelphia, and [Name redacted],
39, of the 900 block of Walnut Street in Chester. Both men were in
possession of quantities of suspected heroin packages labeled "Assassin."

The "Assassin" brand was not commonly associated with bad heroin
until a batch appeared on the streets in recent days, according to Bail.

Investigators apprehended [Name redacted] and [Name redacted] after
observing what appeared to be a number of drug sales. Bail said the
suspected heroin was turned over to the Pennsylvania State Police lab
for further testing.

"The way I see it, people are (apparently) dying now. The lab has
more important stuff to do now," Bail said.

The following people were charged with drug possession as a result of
Thursday's surveillance:

* [Name redacted], 47, of the 1900 block of West 12th Street, who was
allegedly in possession of one bag of heroin packaged with the
"Assassin" label.

* [Name redacted], 49, of Upland Avenue in Upland, who was allegedly
in possession of four bags of heroin.

* [Name redacted], 59, of the 100 block of Harvey Avenue in Linwood,
who was allegedly in possession of 14 bags.

* [Name redacted], 41, of Brookhaven. She complained of being sick
and was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center and will be formally
charged with possession of six bags at a later date.

* [Name redacted], 40, of Glenolden Avenue in Glenolden, who was in a
car with Rhodes, was charged with possession of six bags.

* [Name redacted], 44, of the 1200 block of 11th Street in Eddystone,
who was allegedly in possession of two bags.

* [Name redacted], 32, of Tamaqua, was charged with tampering with
evidence after she was observed making an alleged buy but apparently
discarded the evidence, according to Bail.

On Wednesday, authorities arrested [Name redacted], 31, of Chester
Township, for dealing heroin. Three people were arrested for
possession: [Name redacted], 26, of Brookhaven; [Name redacted], 32,
and [Name redacted], 20, both of Collingdale.

[Name redacted] was taken to Crozer after ingesting the suspected
heroin, Bail said.

"We know for a fact that they warned one of these people and they
bought it anyway," said Bail. "It really gives new meaning to the word dope."

Marcus Hook Mayor George McClure said Thursday night that borough
police were investigating two potential heroin overdoses.