By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
Quick action taken by passersby aided a young man from Muskego who overdosed July 10 on heroin purchased earlier that afternoon in downtown Waterford.
Charged with felony possession of narcotic drugs in the incident are Nicholas M. Diels, 19, who overdosed; Darren J. Gauthier, 21; and Nicholas D. Sullivan, 18. Sullivan is also charged with first-offense possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaints filed in Racine County Circuit Court:
Sullivan told officers he drove the other two men to Waterford July 10 with the intention of buying and using heroin.
He said the three drove into the parking lot of a downtown business, at which point Gauthier left the vehicle and soon returned, saying: “Let’s go some place so we can shoot this up.”
Sullivan said the three then drove outside a strip mall at 911 W. Main St., where Diels shot up in Sullivan’s vehicle, using about three-fourths of the heroin. In about 15 seconds, Diels stopped breathing.
Sullivan said Gauthier then grabbed the rest of the heroin and the needle from Diels, who fell asleep.
Racine County deputies arrived on scene at about 3:01 p.m. and found Diels on the ground with citizens doing CPR on him.
Gauthier showed deputies a secret compartment in one of his sneakers. The secret compartment in the other sneaker was opened by a deputy, who located a silver wrapper there that tested positive for the presence of morphine/codeine.
A further search of the vehicle located a substance that that field-tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Sullivan admitted to officers that the marijuana was his.
All three men were scheduled for preliminary hearings July 18, at which time a judge would decide if there is sufficient evidence that each committed a crime and if trial dates should be set.
If convicted of the felony drug possession charge, each faces a maximum of 3.5 years in prison; $10,000 in fines; or both. Sullivan also faces a maximum fine of $1,000 and six months in prison for the misdemeanor possession charge.
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