The Danville Police Department arrested two Danville men on drug charges in connection with a series of recent overdoses.
Police charged Matthew E. Trakas (44) and Andreiu D. Barley (25) each with the possession with intent to distribute drugs in violation of Virginia State Code 18.2-248.
Danville Police responded to six overdose cases within the last 48 hours. Each of these cases required medical treatment after individuals ingested what they believed to be heroin. First responders administered naloxone to patients in several of these situations. The patients were from Danville and the surrounding area and police are not aware of any deaths attributed to this series of overdoses.
The Danville Police Department learned about these overdoses as part of the enhanced public safety reporting protocols that came from the opioid response team meetings. Within the last 24 hours, investigators served two search warrants at houses in Danville, conducted multiple interdictions and seized evidence of drug possession and distribution. The result of this work led to the arrests of Trakas and Barley and the case is still active and ongoing.
The increased risk this drug presents to the public is it may be laced with fentanyl or similar substance. Ingesting this drug may have swift and potentially fatal results.
Individuals struggling with drug and opioid addiction are strongly encouraged to seek assistance through the Danville-Pittsylvania County Community Services Board at 434-793-4922 or through private treatment options. Anyone interested in receiving life-saving training, please sign up to be trained on how to prevent an overdose and administer life-saving naloxone by contacting Bonnie Trammel at btrammel@dpcs.org or 434-799-0456 ext. 3810.
Police also wish to remind the community about the safe reporting of overdoses. Virginia law enables a person to report an overdose without fear of criminal prosecution in order to receive life-saving treatment.
The Danville Police Department is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all and we ask that anyone with information on this case contact us through our CARE app to report crime tips at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=818# or 434-793-0000.