The Portland Police Bureau is alerting the community of a potentially dangerous batch of drugs circulating the street marketplace. Since Friday, May 12, 2023, PPB has assisted the Medical Examiner with 8 death investigations that are suspected drug overdoses. Six of them are likely fentanyl related, and the other two are pending additional investigation.
These are a list of the current cases:
May 12, 2023, 11:38a.m., inside an apartment in the 12100 block of East Burnside Street, 38-year-old man, case number 23-123928
May 12, 2023, 1:34p.m., in a tent in the 8100 block of Southeast Rhine Street, 42-year-old man, 23-124037
May 13, 2023, 12:24a.m., in a vehicle in Sellwood Riverfront Park, 8049 SE Oaks Park Way, 47-year-old man, 23-124623
May 13, 2023, 1:44a.m., in a grassy area at West Burnside Street and Northwest 8th Avenue, unknown age man (identity has not yet been determined), 23-124669
May 13, 2023, 4:21p.m., in an apartment in the 800 block of Northwest Naito Parkway, 69-year-old man, 23-125214
May 13, 2023, 11:49p.m., in an apartment in the 16000 block of Northeast Sandy Boulevard, 49-year-old male and a 37-year-old man, 23-125607
May 14, 2023, 4:31p.m., 8100 Block of North Hartman Street, Unknown age person, 23-126180
All of these cases are under investigation by the Medical Examiner’s office and Portland Police Narcotics and Organized Crime (NOC) Unit. Preliminary investigation reveals a concerning pattern. NOC has found that in several of these cases, there is evidence that the user believed they were ingesting cocaine, but that it was really a blend of cocaine and fentanyl, or possibly pure powdered fentanyl. Users are warned that there may be a batch of purported cocaine circulating on the street that is particularly dangerous to use.
NOC is continuing to investigate. If anyone has information about any of these cases and have not already talked to police, please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference the corresponding case number. Additional information will be released when appropriate.
