Man Held On Charges He Overdosed On Heroin In Maternity Ward
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - Police say a Pennsylvania man overdosed on heroin in the bathroom of a hospital maternity ward where his girlfriend and their newborn were staying.
Johnstown police say Lucas Cornelius was found unconscious at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center on Tuesday.
He was treated at the hospital's emergency room then jailed Wednesday on charges of possessing drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.
Police say they found empty stamp bags marked "Head Trauma" in a toilet and a syringe hidden in a paper towel dispenser.
Federal prosecutors say "Head Trauma" and other batches of heroin have led to more than 30 overdoses in western Pennsylvania in recent days.
On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney David Hickton issued a warning about dangerous batches of heroin - some being laced with the powerful painkiller fentanyl. These batches have caused a string of overdoses in Cambria and Washington counties.
"We've had approximately 15 non-fatal overdoses in Washington County in the last several days and approximately the same number in Cambra County," Hickton said.
Cornelius remained jailed Thursday and doesn't have an attorney.
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