DA ‘on mission to save lives’ in fight against fentanyl

Sequoyah County District Attorney Jack Thorp is on a mission to save lives, and is requesting local law enforcement to investigate drug-related deaths as homicides.

Thorp said he has written letters to all District 27 law enforcement leaders regarding the epidemic of drug overdose deaths.

“I asked that law enforcement officials coordinate with emergency medical first responders and begin investigating these deaths as homicides,” Thorp said. “Pursuant to 21 O.S. 7017(B), the distribution of controlled dangerous substances that lead to the death of a person can be charged with first-degree murder.

“Law enforcement, specifically, Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane and Sallisaw Police Chief Terry Franklin, have worked with the District 27 Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force to investigate these crimes.

“With the epidemic levels of fentanyl in our communities, it is of paramount importance to use every tool in our arsenal to punish these drug dealers and killers,” said Thorp, who represents Sequoyah, Adair, Cherokee and Wagoner counties.

“Working together with local law enforcement, we are on mission to save lives. I urge any person with information related to the illegal distribution of narcotics to contact their local law enforcement agencies and provide information,” Thorp said.

“Working together, we can eradicate fentanyl and other illegal narcotics from our communities.”