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Washington Co. man arrested after resuscitating OD victim to whom he allegedly sold heroin

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A Washington County man is facing charges after police say he sold heroin to a woman whom he then resuscitated when she overdosed on the drug.

“He panicked, saw what was going on and made the phone call,” Chartiers Township Police Chief James Horvath said.

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A phone call to 911 made from a Chartiers Township home Monday ended with the arrest of David Gatling. Authorities said Gatling gave a woman heroin and then tried to resuscitate her after she overdosed.

“He opened it, rolled up a dollar bill and she snorted it. (She) said she only remembered us talking to her,” Horvath said.

Police said the incident occurred in front of the woman’s 3-year-old daughter. For that reason, officers said they believe the woman was quick to tell them the truth about where she got the drug.

“That doesn't happen because most of the time, they go back and buy from the same person,” Horvath said.

The woman’s overdose happened Monday after a string of more than a dozen overdoses in Washington County. Police said they believe heroin laced with fentanyl is going around.

According to Washington County Emergency Services, they had three overdoses last Friday, one Saturday, one Sunday and two Monday, one of which was fatal. A 34-year-old man died inside a Cecil Township home surrounded by stamp bags and needles with the label “BLACK OPS” and “LOUIE V,” authorities said.

Channel 11’s Cara Sapida reported that the woman who overdosed Monday is at Gateway Rehab, and her brother and sister-in-law are taking care of her 3-year-old daughter.

Gatling was taken to the Washington County Jail.

WPXI

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