Roseburg Man Arrested Following Suspected Overdose Death in Green District
Detectives say fentanyl purchase likely occurred shortly before victim was found deceased
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. — A Roseburg man has been arrested following a drug-related death investigation in the Green District, according to the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT).
Deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded early Thursday morning, Dec. 4, to a residence in the 5000 block of Grange Road, where 34-year-old Zachary Slaymaker was found deceased. Evidence at the scene led investigators to believe the cause of death was a likely drug overdose, with fentanyl suspected.
DINT detectives were called to assist and began tracking Slaymaker’s movements in the 24 hours before his death. Investigators developed evidence indicating Slaymaker had purchased fentanyl from 39-year-old George Perez of Roseburg shortly before he died.
As the investigation focused on Perez, detectives learned he was believed to still be selling small quantities of fentanyl in the area. On Friday, Dec. 5, at approximately 4 p.m., detectives located Perez in the parking lot of a business in the 3300 block of NW Aviation Drive in Roseburg. He was taken into custody without incident.
A small amount of suspected fentanyl was found on Perez at the time of the arrest, and investigators believe he intended to sell it.
Perez was lodged in the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:
Two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance
Two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance
DINT reports the investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges or arrests are possible.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid estimated to be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. As little as 2 milligrams — roughly 10 to 15 grains of table salt — can be a lethal dose.
The Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team is a multi-jurisdictional task force focused on disrupting drug trafficking organizations at the local and regional level. The team includes members from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Land Management. DINT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.
Cover image: Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash
