For Immediate Release

Friday, June 24, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-9003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Two Saved, One Arrested in Ashland, As Opioid Epidemic Spares No Community

ASHLAND — Chief Craig Davis reports that the Ashland Police Department responded to multiple drug-related incidents this week. Utilizing preventative measures, outreach and enforcement of the law, officers were able to save lives and remove dangerous drugs from the community.

On June 22, at 9:46 p.m., officers responded to a heroin overdose in town where a man was not breathing. Officers administered two doses of nasal Narcan, the opioid reversal drug, which resulted in the revival of the man. He was then transported to an area hospital by Ashland Fire Department paramedics and survived.

One day later, on June 23, at 8:52 a.m., officers responded to another heroin overdose where a woman was not breathing. Officers once again administered two doses of nasal Narcan, and resuscitated the victim. The woman was transported to an area hospital by Ashland Fire Department paramedics and survived. The Ashland Police Department outreach officer, who follows up with residents suffering from the disease of addiction, was able to arrange for the woman to be placed at Gosnold treatment center on Cape Cod. She was transferred there by an Ashland police officer.

Later that day, at 9:53 p.m., police served a search warrant at a known drug dealer’s house in town and a large amount of heroin, LSD/Acid and Suboxone were seized. The suspect, MATTHEW M. OTOOLE, AGE 23, OF WESTBOROUGH, was arrested and charged with:

• Possession to Distribute a Class A Drug (Heroin)
• Possession to Distribute a Class B Drug (LSD/Acid)
• Possession to Distribute a Class B Drug (Suboxone)
• Drug Violation Near a School/Park
• Possessing a Counterfeit Note

OTOOLE also had a warrant of out Dedham District Court.

“We are actively working to combat the heroin epidemic from all angles,” Chief Davis said. “From equipping our officers with the life-saving drug nasal Narcan, to assisting residents struggling with addiction into treatment, and investigating known drug dealers in town, we are doing all we can to save lives and remove these dangerous opioids from our community.”

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