Tag Archives: drugs

‘Drug market’ — Deadly shootings bring new urgency to community group’s calls for changes to west side of Cal Anderson Park

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Nagle Place

Nagle Place

It is not known what progress the Seattle Police Department has made identifying suspects or a motive in the shooting deaths of brothers Ray and TT Wilford but the murders have brought new urgency to a Capitol HIll community group’s efforts to address safety and worries about drug dealing on the west side of Cal Anderson Park.

The Cal Anderson Park Alliance was already in the midst of a survey process to collect feedback about Nagle Place, the street that runs along the west edge of the park that has been given over mostly to parking and street disorder despite nearby development rising above it, when the latest shootings happened.

“For years, it’s been obvious that much of the violence in the park is related to the drug market on Nagle and the west edge of the park,” the CAPA group said in a statement to CHS in the wake of the deadly Saturday night that left 33-year-old and 29-year-old brothers dead. Continue reading →

Seattle Fire Department announces naloxone donation as FDA approves over-the-counter Narcan

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The Seattle Fire Department has received a donation that could save hundreds of lives after a national medicine nonprofit has given the department 1,000 dosages of intramuscular naloxone to help the city combat fentanyl and opioid overdoses. Meanwhile, a FDA decision will make Narcan-brand naloxone available over the counter by the end of summer meaning the overdose-reversing medicine can be sold on the shelves at pharmacies, grocery stores, and corner markets. Continue reading →

Fentanyl test strips can help save lives — Here’s where to find them around Capitol Hill

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Testing drugs for possible contamination is becoming more common, as fentanyl, a strong synthetic opioid, is to blame for many preventable deaths across the country. To get the strips on Capitol Hill, many are turning to community sources made up of local aid groups and neighborhood businesses.

According to King County Public Health, in 2021 there were 395 fentanyl related deaths — in 2015 there were 3.

Capitol Hill has seen its share of drug related deaths as counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and powdered drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines are having fentanyl mixed in without buyers knowing. There has also been a rise in fentanyl being ingested on the streets and on public transportation. Just a small amount of fentanyl can cause death. As 2022 began, health officials warned of a “cluster” of fentanyl deaths on Capitol Hill. More waves and ripples have continued.

If used correctly, fentanyl test strips can help detect fentanyl and fentanyl analogs before they’re consumed. Continue reading →

Health officials warn after three dead in Capitol Hill fentanyl ‘Overdose Cluster’

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(Image: Public Health – Seattle & King County)

Health officials say the December 23rd death of a man found unconscious with two other people also suffering suspected fentanyl overdoses in a Boylston Ave apartment is part of an “Overdose Cluster” identified in the neighborhood.

Public Health – Seattle & King County says three people have died as part of two overdose events in the neighborhood. CHS reported on the Thursday, December 23rd incident here in which one person died and two others were reported revived by Narcan and taken to the hospital after a neighbor saw the man slumped through the apartment window and called 911.

Public Health could not immediately provide information on the two additional deaths or the second incident identified in the cluster but confirmed the three deaths among the six reported people who overdosed. Continue reading →

Fentanyl suspected after one dead, two revived with Narcan in Boylston apartment overdose

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One person died and Narcan helped revive two others after a group suffered overdoses Thursday night in a Boylston Ave apartment. A worse tragedy may have been averted thanks to an alert neighbor.

According to Seattle Fire, crews were dispatched to a building in the 1400 block of Boylston around 8 PM Thursday night after a 911 caller said they could see a male in the apartment unit across from their building slumped on a barstool against a window.

Seattle Police and arriving medics made entry into the fourth floor apartment and reported three patients at the scene including the unresponsive male and two other patients suffering from a suspected drug overdose. Seattle Fire crew members administered Narcan opioid antidote and began CPR on the occupants of the unit. Continue reading →

As state effort at legalization grows, Seattle asks police to deprioritize ‘magic mushrooms’

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The Seattle City Council Monday approved a resolution asking Seattle Police to not enforce laws against drugs like magic mushrooms.

The resolution from Councilmember Andrew Lewis directs SPD to deprioritize arrests related to drugs including psilocybin despite federal restrictions on the mind-altering substances.

In 2020, Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin for mental health and therapeutic use. Continue reading →

To help battle growing fentanyl problem, Seattle providing training and 700 naloxone kits

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Officials say counterfeit pills made to look like pharmaceuticals such as oxycodone but actually containing fentanyl are a growing problem. In addition to increased efforts to crack down on the drug trade, the City of Seattle is also hoping to help more people survive overdoses.

Thursday, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced the city will purchase 700 naloxone kits to distribute at trainings throughout Seattle.

“Fentanyl and counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl are spreading throughout our communities, and we must continue to combat this growing crisis. Naloxone can reverse overdoses – these kits can truly save people’s lives,” Durkan said in the announcement of the effort. Continue reading →

White powder in hazardous material response at Capitol Hill house turns out to be drugs

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Neighbors near Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park saw a peculiar scene unfold Wednesday night as Seattle Fire personnel carefully brought an envelope containing a suspicious white powder out of a home on the block and into the front yard. Fortunately, this wasn’t a terrorist attack on a single family home. Instead, the suspicious white powder turned out to be a drug, a Seattle Fire spokesperson tells CHS.

SFD was called to the home around 9 PM to a report that a suspicious envelope found at the address contained an unknown powder. Continue reading →

Drug and gun charges for man feds say was prolific fake Xanax dealer around Capitol Hill

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The haul recovered during searches last week (Image: SPD)

A man investigators say has been dealing marijuana, coke, oxy, and Adderall out of a Capitol Hill apartment for years has been arrested and charged with federal drug crimes after being nailed by Seattle Police detectives working in conjunction with Homeland Security and the King County Sheriff’s Office major crimes unit.

28-year-old Gizachew Degol Wondie was arrested Thursday morning by police at the E Denny Way apartment after an informant tipped off Homeland Security about his activities involving counterfeit Xanax and a King County Sheriff homicide investigation produced the needed search warrants. Continue reading →

How a Capitol Hill overdose and spade-marked baggies brought down man prosecutors say was neighborhood opioid kingpin

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Cash seized by police was so filthy with drugs, investigators wanted Narcan on hand before they dealt with it

A picture of Smith and his daughter the convicted drug dealer included in his plea for leniency to a U.S. District Court judge

An April 2017 overdose death in an E John apartment brought down the man prosecutors say was the kingpin opioid dealer on Capitol Hill until his arrest, prosecution, and sentence this week to twelve years in prison.

Gregory Smith, 34, “was a primary—if not the principal—opioid dealer in Capitol Hill,” prosecutor write. “Beginning in mid-2016, Smith’s ability to source massive amounts of fentanyl analogues from China only further reinforced his status as the go-to dealer in this area of Seattle. His personal impact upon the opioid crisis in Seattle was substantial.”

“A sophisticated trafficker, trading in cryptocurrencies, working with overseas suppliers, knowing not to deposit large quantities of cash into financial institutions, and amassing an arsenal of weapons and a security system to protect his assets and supply,” Smith was sentenced this week to 12 years in jail in a plea deal following an investigation that traced more than 70 shipments of fentanyl analogues to the Des Moines Memorial Dr S dealer from China.

Smith’s co-defendant Kyle McClure was also convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and sentenced to two years in jail, according to court records. Continue reading →