Feb 2, 2016 4 min read

U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton has scheduled a news conference at 10 a.m. today at the Pittsburgh office to discuss the recent spike in heroin overdoses in Western Pennsylvania, including at least a dozen nonfatal ones reported in Washington County since the weekend.

“Presently, the bags recovered from the overdose scenes (in Washington County) are marked with a picture of a black boot or labled “Piece of Mind,” according to a statement Hickton issued Tuesday night.

Other counties that have been experiencing the spike are Allegheny and Cambria, where several fatal overdoses occurred in the past week as well as 15 non-fatal overdoses, according to the statement.

Hickton said the Drug Enforcement Agency, with local and state police, are working to determine the source and composition of the heroin batches.

The majority of the overdose victims have been saved with the use of Narcan, an opioid reversal drug, administered by local emergency medical services personnel and police.

Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said he is monitoring the number of recent heroin overdoses in the area.

“We are working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Vittone said Tuesday night. “I have been on the phone with the U.S. Attorney throughout the day.”

Local police continue to respond to heroin overdose calls and make arrests.

South Strabane Township police could have used a paddy wagon Monday afternoon to transport the six people they arrested in less than three hours, including three on drug charges after they reportedly overdosed at Walmart, Trinity Point.

The other three arrests were people charged with stealing items from Kohl’s, Strabane Square.

Facing drug charges are Chelsea Dawn Rye, 25, and Michael S. Watson, 25, both of Littleton, W.Va., and Chester Hostutler, 28, no known address. Charged with retail theft and conspiracy are Alyssa R. Zataweski, 35, and Michael Milliern, 36, both of Pittsburgh.

William Lowe, 35, of 372 Cunningham Road, Claysville, is charged with retail theft and possession of heroin.

Police were initially called about 2:20 p.m. to Walmart for a man who possibly had overdosed on drugs. When an officer arrived, he found the man, later identified as Watson, outside a van in the parking lot. Police found 12 bags of suspected heroin on the ground next to him. A witness told police it fell out of Watson’s pocket. Another 49 bags were found in his jacket pocket.

Police opened the door of the van and found Hostutler passed out on the back seat with a loaded syringe under his feet.

A few minutes later, police were told that a woman, later identified as Rye, had overdosed in a restroom at the store. Police found her with two empty stamp bags and two full stamp bags of the suspected drug. A witness told police Rye tried to help Watson in the parking lot before running into the store.

Emergency medical crews were able to revive the three.

Police were called about 3:45 p.m. to Kohl’s after Lowe reportedly stole men’s clothing valued at $275. Police also found him with empty stamp bags of heroin.

An hour later, police were again called to the store after Zataweski and Milliern were stopped by store security. A security officer told police the two entered the store together and Zataweski gave Milliern her purse before going to customer service. Milliern reportedly put electronic devices inside her purse.

Police said Milliern also put a global positioning unit in his rectum. The two reunited inside the store and walked past the cash registers when they were stopped by security.

All six were arraigned Monday night before District Judge David Mark. Rye, Hostutler and Lowe, who face charges of possession of heroin and paraphernalia, are in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond. Watson, who also was charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, is in jail on $25,000 bond. Zataweski and Milliern are each in jail on $5,000 bond.

Staff writer Karen Zapf contributed to this story.