News

The Arcata Police Department is investigating the city's fourth possible overdose death since Wednesday.

APD issued a press release at noon today with information about the deaths, saying it was intended "to inform community members of recent deaths in Arcata that could be related to the ingestion of dangerous drugs to include fentanyl."

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the department responded to a call of two people — a 45-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman — found dead in a tent at Carson Park. About 10 minutes later, the department got a report of a 54-year-old man "overdosing" on Samoa Boulevard, and the man later died at a local hospital.

Then, at 3:39 a.m. today, the department was notified of a dead body inside a hotel room and responded to find a 45-year-old woman who was not breathing and had no pulse. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Toxicology tests on all four people are pending, according to APD, which added "there were no obvious signs of trauma, no signs of a struggle and no indications of foul play."

"This investigation, the scope of which could change with new information, is on-going," APD's press release states. "Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Chris Ortega at [email protected] or (707) 822-2428 x1142."

See the full release copied below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APD REPORTS FOURTH DEATH WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS

On Sunday, April 24, 2022 at approximately 3:39 am, the Arcata Police Department received a call of a body inside a room at a local hotel and that the reporting party needed "police now." APD Officers located an approximately 45 year old female inside a room. The female was not breathing and had no pulse. Officers performed CPR however, the female was pronounced deceased at the scene.

This is the fourth death in Arcata in the last several days in which there were indications that drugs could have been ingested. On Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at approximately 4:01 pm, the Arcata Police Department received a call of two people inside a tent in Carlson Park who were possibly deceased. APD Officers located the tent and inside were a male, approximately 45 years old and a female, approximately 64 years old, who were both deceased. On the same day at 4:11 pm, the Arcata Police Department received a call of a 54 year old male who was overdosing at 1680 Samoa Boulevard. Despite life-saving measures the male died at a local hospital.

In all four deaths there were no obvious signs of trauma, no signs of a struggle and no indications of foul play. Toxicology results are pending and could take several weeks. The Humboldt County Coroner's Office responded to each scene and took custody of all four decedents. The release of this information is intended to inform community members of recent deaths in Arcata that could be related to the ingestion of dangerous drugs to include fentanyl. This investigation, the scope of which could change with new information, is on-going. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Chris Ortega at [email protected] or (707) 822-2428 x1142.
# # #