Semmes police step up fight against fentanyl after overdose deaths

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Right now, a 19-year-old is behind bars in connection with the fentanyl overdose death of a Semmes teenager.

On Thursday, Brayden Robert Hollie was arrested and charged with manslaughter following the death of 18-year-old Jayce Ward in August. Investigators say Ward took pills laced with fentanyl. Hollie was charged under Alabama's new law.

“The Legislature passed a new law that went into effect in April that specifically makes providing fentanyl to someone who causes their death a homicide,” Blackwood said. “If you take a standard sugar packet that you see in a restaurant – if it was full of fentanyl, that would be enough to kill five or six hundred people.” That's how deadly this drug is and that's why it's important that we “Take the matter seriously.”

This is just one of three fentanyl-related deaths Semmes has experienced in the last two years.

Even the smallest amount of fentanyl can be fatal.

FOX10 News caught up with Semmes Police Chief Todd Freind, who says his department is increasing its drug interdiction efforts amid a rise in fentanyl overdose deaths.

“Drug interdiction is a traffic control for vehicles that are known to travel to areas of high crime and drug use. “You obviously have to have a good reason to stop a vehicle to detain someone for questioning,” Chief Freind said.

“Our biggest challenge is figuring out where it comes from and who brings it in. Three or four years ago we didn't see much out here. It was really sparse. But now we’re seeing a really big upswing,” he added.

Chief Freind says most fentanyl officers are laced with other narcotics. Virginia Guy of the Drug Education Council says that's what makes fentanyl so dangerous.

“Often the person thinks they are buying an Adderall pill or another type of opioid, and what they are actually getting is an illegally manufactured pill that contains a lethal dose of fentanyl,” Guy said.

Semmes police have fentanyl testing kits and plenty of Narcan on hand. Narcan is a medication used to treat opioid overdoses.

“We are in the process of ordering more because we are going through them like crazy,” Chief Freind added.

Semmes is a younger community with a growing population. The Semmes Police Department celebrates its two-year anniversary in October. The Semmes Police Department currently has 20 sworn officers, with at least four patrolling the streets at all times.

However, with population growth comes an increase in crime. Chief Freind says the department will eventually need more officers to combat crimes like the distribution of fentanyl.

“We are considering adding one per squad to have at least five people on the road every day and at all times,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hollie was in court for a bail hearing on Friday morning. The judge set his bail at $40,000, which is higher than the recommended bail range for manslaughter, which Blackwood said is typically between $5,000 and $30,000.

Under normal bail conditions, Hollie is not allowed to have contact with the victim's family. He is due back in court on October 8th.

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