A New Year’s Eve party in Dartmouth turned tragic after 24-year-old Jesse Smith allegedly overdosed on drugs.
Halifax Regional Police say they were called to the 100 block of Horizon Court Friday around 1:20 a.m.
“We did find an unconscious male and EHS transported him to the QEII, where he subsequently passed away over the weekend,” said S/Sgt. Bill Morris of Halifax Regional Police.
Police would not say what kind of drug Smith took or who provided it.
Jesse Raymond Gaetz, 23, of Dartmouth has been charged with criminal negligence causing death.
Police say Gaetz is being held in custody after he allegedly failed to get medical help for the victim.
“One of (the factors behind the charge) is not providing emergency help to somebody they believe is in distress and without getting into details, that’s where this charge comes from” said S/Sgt. Morris.
Police say these kinds of charges depend on circumstances. One of the most recent cases involved an Amherst man who was charged with manslaughter in December in the overdose death of 20-year-old Kody Cook in 2014.
Local advocates are working to stop an overdose before it happens with 600 opiate-antidote kits. Half will be available in Halifax and half in Cape Breton in three weeks.
“We’re going to be training people who use drugs, how to prevent an overdose, how to identify an overdose, and how to respond and follow up,” said executive director of Direction 180, Cindy MacIsaac.
Gaetz is being held in custody and will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on Monday.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kelly Linehan.
