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APD arrests five after opioids kill nine.

Cops have made five arrests linked to last week's overdose outbreaks and tried to claim credit for their so-called progress.

Published May 7, 2024 at 9:30am by Bianca Moreno-Paz

Austin Police Arrest Five More in Connection with Deadly Overdose Outbreak

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### APD Arrests:
- Gary Lewis, 50
- Denise Horton, 47
- Kanady Rimijo, 32
- Marcellus Barron, 30
- Ronnie Mims, 45
- Johnny Lee Wright, 55 (additional charges)

### Charges:
- Possession/delivery crack cocaine+fentanyl
- Unlawful possession firearm by felon
- Possession controlled substance <1 gram
- Theft

"The Travis County medical examiner's office is investigating nine cases as suspected overdose deaths. Fentanyl was present in all nine, cocaine in eight, and methamphetamines in three." - Hector Nieto, county spokesperson.

From April 29 - May 3, there was a drastic increase in overdose calls in Travis County, with 79 calls in total. This was an unprecedented surge, as Austin-Travis County EMS usually responds to 2-4 opioid overdose calls daily.

The wave of 911 calls started downtown, but quickly spread across the city.

Police conducted undercover ops to find dealers and trace the fentanyl source, but so far, no "single organized group" has been identified. This outbreak has resulted in a crackdown on narcotics, with the five arrests made between April 30 - May 2, and one additional suspect facing charges.

More details are expected at a press conference today.