2 arrested for drug distribution resulting in death

EPHRATA, Pa. — Two men from central Pennsylvania have been charged with drug deliveries that led to the overdose death of a victim in March.

Jordon Andrew Sweigart, 26, of Reinholds, and Harvey Turner V, 30, of Denver, were charged Oct. 4 after a months-long investigation by Ephrata police.

Police said they responded to the overdose, initially ruled a cardiac arrest, around 10:44 p.m. on March 26 when the victim's roommate came home from work, discovered the victim in his bedroom and called 911. The Lancaster County Coroner's Office determined on April 25 that the victim's cause of death was indeed acute fentanyl toxicity.

At the scene, police found an empty hypodermic needle, four Suboxone tablets and a folded piece of aluminum foil with residue that tested positive for fentanyl. The roommate allegedly told police that the victim was recovering from an opioid addiction and he suspected that the victim may have relapsed about two weeks ago based on his behavior.

Turner, who police knew from previous interviews was also an opioid user, was also present at the scene. He allegedly told police he was worried about the victim and arrived at the apartment between the time the roommate got home and when police arrived to check on them. Turner also claimed to have been drug-free for about a year, according to a probable cause affidavit.

According to a criminal complaint, police forensically analyzed the victim's and Turner's phones. Investigators found messages between the two about buying and selling drugs to each other.

According to police, around March 16, Turner began regularly buying drugs from Sweigart and then selling them to the victim.

At approximately 6:35 p.m. on March 25, Turner and the victim texted about the effects of the drugs. These are the last messages the victim sends to Turner.

Turner texted the victim again around 10:40 p.m. on March 26 – about four minutes before police arrived at the victim's residence – to tell him that he and an unknown person were concerned about the victim.

Police found no messages on the victim's phone indicating he was purchasing drugs from anyone other than Turner. They also found no messages on Turner's phone that indicated he was buying heroin or fentanyl from anyone other than Sweigart.

Turner and Sweigart are each charged with one count of drug delivery resulting in death.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 17, according to court records. Sweigart posted $150,000 bail; Turner remains in the Lancaster County Jail and is unable to post bail.