By Jeremy Schwartz
Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — An 18-year-old Port Angeles man has been arrested for investigation of controlled-substance homicide after a teenager died, allegedly from overdosing on heroin that police suspect was provided by the older teen.
David Zavodny remained Wednesday in the Clallam County jail on one count of controlled-substance homicide with no bond set.
He allegedly provided 17-year-old Maceo X. Niehaus of Port Angeles with heroin that later contributed to Maceo’s death, said Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith.
Five OD emergencies
Smith said Maceo’s death is the first to result from five suspected heroin-overdose emergencies that Port Angeles police and Fire Department paramedics have been called to in the past 10 days.
“The other four, we have not obtained any facts that would allow us to arrest or prosecute anyone for a criminal charge,” Smith said.
Paramedics were able to resuscitate the other four individuals who had overdosed, Smith said.
Smith said a recent uptick in reported heroin overdoses over the past month or so is not unique to Port Angeles.
“This phenomenon we’re seeing is countywide, and regionwide, not just Port Angeles,” Smith said.
Police and Fire Department paramedics arrived at a house in the 700 block of South Ennis Street at about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday to find Zavodny there with Maceo, who had died.
“The deceased was not showing any signs of life when police and [paramedics] responded,” Smith said.
Smith said Zavodny and Maceo knew each other and that Zavodny but not Maceo appeared to live at the house where the two were found.
Police continued to gather evidence Wednesday, he said.
“This case is still under investigation, but we had enough probable cause to make an arrest,” Smith said.
Ann Lundwall, deputy Clallam County prosecuting attorney, said Wednesday morning she was receiving information from investigators and compiling it in preparation for charging Zavodny, likely later this week.
“At this point, there’s very little I can comment on in the case,” Lundwall said.
Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
