Roanoke Police investigate 2 deaths possibly linked to heroin

Court records claim Roanoke police are investigating two deaths possibly linked to heroin use.

The first was a 21-year-old man who died on October 4th, according to a search warrant on file in Roanoke city circuit court.

Police found a syringe near his body.

Officers found the man in a bathroom.

A search of the apartment where he was found yielded several more syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

The second death investigation according to a separate search warrant involves the death of 39-year-old man.

The search warrant reads the man told emergency medical technicians back on September 3rd he was a frequent heroin user.

Investigators got a call from the man’s wife recently that he had died of apparent liver failure, according to the search warrant seeking information on his medical records from Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Roanoke police declined to comment on either of the death investigations, citing medical examiners reports which have yet to be completed.

Other search warrants on file in Roanoke circuit court show narcotics investigators have raided more than half a dozen suspected heroin stash houses since mid-September.

Roanoke police statistics show the department is on pace to make more heroin arrests this year compared to last year.

So far this year Roanoke police have arrested 30 people on heroin-related charges.

In 2008, there were 36 arrests.

2007: 29 arrests.

2006: 14 arrests.

2005: 16 arrests.