Portland Police Bureau
09/13/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/13/2024 13:43
Suspected Fentanyl-Related Death of Child Under Investigation
September 13, 2024 12:34
The Portland Police Bureau's Narcotics and Organized Crime (NOC) Unit is investigating the suspected fentanyl-related death of a child.
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, at approximately 2:30 p.m., North Precinct officers responded to a residence in the 9000 block of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on reports of a two-year-old child who was in cardiac arrest. When officers arrived, they spoke with Portland Fire & Rescue personnel who stated the little girl had already been transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Unfortunately, the child died at the hospital despite lifesaving measures by medical staff.
The Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death, but based on evidence discovered at the child's home, and conversations with hospital staff, fentanyl is believed to be a contributing factor.
PPB's NOC Unit is investigating the child's death. No arrests have been made. While detectives have spoken with numerous adults in the little girl's life, they would like to speak with her mother who left the home as this incident was initially unfolding. The mother is not being publicly identified at this time.
"I am incredibly saddened to hear about the death of this little girl," said Chief Bob Day. "This tragedy impacts the child's family, friends, neighbors, the first responders, and our entire community. We at the Portland Police Bureau are committed to investigating and arresting people who are illegally distributing these dangerous substances. And we will continue working with our partners at the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office to ensure they are prosecuted."
Since the start of 2024, PPB has been notified of 210 overdoses. Five of those involved children. In 2023, PPB was notified of 303 overdoses. Nine of those involved children. An overwhelming majority of these are deaths.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Detective Jason Koenig at [email protected] 503-823-0889 and reference case number 24-233352.
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