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Person Of Interest Arrested In Connection With Overdoses Of 30-Plus People At City Park

As the number of people who have overdosed has grown to more than 30 people at a New Haven city park, a person of interest has been arrested.

Police are on the scene of a massive overdose at New Haven Green park.

Police are on the scene of a massive overdose at New Haven Green park.

Photo Credit: Google Maps street view

Officials began receiving reports of drug overdoses at the park known as the Haven Green, Tuesday evening when three people were believed to have overdosed, officials said.

Just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, the City’s 911 Center began to receive calls reporting possible additional overdoses on the New Haven Green, said Rick Fontana, director, of New Haven Emergency Operations.

Just after 3 p.m., the New Haven Police Department announced it has made an arrest of a local man, believed to be connected to at least some of the overdoses, said Officer David Hartman.

"The man was arrested within the last hour by members of the NHPD Intelligence Unit," he said. "The identity of the man arrested will not be released until such time he’s been positively identified by any probable victim so as not to taint the investigation."

The drug responsible for the overdoses is believed to be K2, a synthetic cannabinoid laced with fentanyl, officials said.

Two individuals had life-threatening symptoms and the others had non-life-threatening symptoms. There were a total of more than 30 overdoses in a 3-hour span some in multiples of four to six at a time, Fontana added. 

All were transported to both Yale-New Haven hospitals for treatment. 

"The NHPD will continue working the investigation of this case, city, state and private-public health outreach workers continue their work as these nationwide issues of K2 use in an urban environment present challenges to local, state and federal governments," he added.

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