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New Law Puts 2 Alleged Drug Dealers Behind Bars In Fatal Overdose

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two men are charged with allegedly providing the drugs that led to another man's death in Westmoreland County.

It's a relatively new law that police are, so far, are finding to be effective.

The story starts back in February of this year. That's when the body of Sam Christner was found inside a Latrobe home dead of a heroin overdose.

At one time that would have been the end of a sad story, but not anymore.

"We are going to follow through on any case and try and track the people down who delivered the drugs," said Trooper Steve Limani, of Pennsylvania State Police.

In Christner's case, troopers say the alleged dealers were 40-year-old Michael Peterson and 25-year-old Garrin Ullrich Stiffler.

"Fortunately for us, there was video surveillance of the transaction taking place," said Trooper Limani.

The images came from a surveillance camera at a Youngwood Sheetz.

The law that allowed troopers to charge Peterson and Ullrich Stiffler with drug delivery resulting in death is new on the books. But troopers say when it comes to the heroin epidemic especially, it's a shot across the bow for would be dealers.

"I think is sends a very strong message that we're going to find the person and track them down and prosecute them," Trooper Limani said.

Both suspects remain in the Westmoreland County Jail on $150,000 bond.

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