LOUISVILLE, Colo. — A man accused of dealing fentanyl used in an overdose was arrested in Denver on Sunday, the Louisville Police Department said.
Police said on April 15, an officer responded around 11 p.m. to a medical call in the 900-block of Dahlia Street in Louisville.
The officer found a 23-year-old woman unconscious and not breathing in the driveway, and received information that she had been poisoned by fentanyl, according to police.
The officer then began life-saving measures including administering Narcan, and managed to revive the victim, police said.
Investigators identified the suspected fentanyl dealer as 30-year-old Orlando "Lando" Anglada, who was arrested Sunday on suspicion of the following charges, police said:
- Felony distribution of a controlled substance
- Unlawful use of a controlled substance
Anglada is also being held on warrants out of Boulder, Denver and Jefferson counties, according to police.
"The follow-up investigation that was done is exactly what we need in these cases to make sure the dealers, those responsible for threatening the lives of others and taking the lives of others, are held fully accountable," 20th Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty said.
This woman in Louisville survived, but others in Colorado are not as lucky. That is why Boulder County is now looking at every drug-related death as a homicide.
Now when a drug-related death occurs, the coroner's office, the district attorney's office and the police department are all notified. Dougherty said this new protocol began three months ago.
"We recognize each one of these deaths is a tragedy and each family is broken and left behind looking for answers," he said.
Finding justice can be difficult in these cases, especially if the person who took the drug isn't alive and can't tell police who gave it to them.
"Often there’s little other physical evidence present and that is why the computer devices and the questioning of other witnesses is so critically important for us to trace the drugs back to the dealer who is responsible," Dougherty said.
It's not common in Colorado to see charges against people suspected of dealing fentanyl. Dougherty believes this new approach will help change that in Boulder County.
Anyone with information on the case in Louisville is asked to call police at 303-441-4444.
Anyone with information can also contact Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at info@nococrimestoppers.com or 1-800-222-8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Calls to the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers are not recorded and the phone does not have caller ID, according to the NoCoCrimestoppers website. A coordinator completes a tips information form, makes initial inquiries and passes the information along to investigators.
A two-way dialogue system online also allows tipsters to come back and provide additional information and ask questions.
A community board of directors meets regularly to evaluate arrests and determine reward amounts.
> More information about Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers can be found here.
> Additional NoCo Crime Stoppers bulletins can be found here.
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