The Austin Police Department (APD) has taken two individuals into custody in connection with a recent surge in overdoses across Austin and Travis County.
Johnny Lee Wright, aged 55, along with another unidentified suspect, was arrested on Thursday following a sudden increase in suspected opioid overdoses, resulting in 75 reported cases and nine suspected fatalities since the beginning of the week.
Officials from the APD Narcotics Unit confiscated 3 grams of crack cocaine during the arrests, which tested positive for both cocaine and fentanyl. Authorities suspect that the overdoses are the consequence of crack cocaine being laced with fentanyl.
While the APD cannot confirm that fentanyl was the direct cause of the overdose deaths until toxicology tests are completed by the Medical Examiner’s Office, they assert that there is no indication of a single organized group distributing the illicit narcotics in Austin.
Currently, the APD is engaged in undercover operations throughout the city in an effort to apprehend narcotics dealers and gather more information about the origin of the fentanyl.
Online records from the Travis County Jail indicate that Wright was booked on April 29 and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, with a bond set at $10,000. The second suspect faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, classified as a third-degree felony.