East Liverpool Heroin Overdose Victims Survive

Details

Category: Crime

Published on Saturday, 10 September 2016 13:53

Written by Janet Walker

James Lee Acord and Rhonda Pasek, the couple whose graphic overdose picture taken by responding officers has gone viral, survived the incident and after hospitalization were reprimanded to the local county jail until court appearances.

Acord, the driver, according to the police affidavit, had been visually observed driving erratically through a residential area of East Liverpool, Ohio. A local school bus, traveling in the opposite direction, was in the process of discharging students. Traveling at an unsafe speed, the driver slammed on the brakes and skidding to a stop, moments before crossing into the area designated for the discharging school students. The driver then attempted to pull to the side of the road, made a half right turn and stopped the car.

East Liverpool Police Officer Kevin Thompson, approached the vehicle and noticed the passenger, unconscious and turning blue, the driver thought to be intoxicated attempting to restart the vehicle. The officer also noted a toddler in the car seat.

The two were photographed overdosing. The responding EMT administered to the female a drug known as NARCON which is known to reverse the effects of an overdose.

The two were transported to the local hospital. After a brief stay they were later transported to the Columbiana County Jail.

Charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, public intoxication, seatbelt violations, driving violations (stopping or slowing in a roadway).

Acord was sentenced to 180 days or six months in jail, had his driver’s license suspended for three years and ordered to pay $475.00 in court fee. Pasek charged with seat belt violations and endangering the welfare of a minor pleaded not guilty and will reappear in court on September 15, 2016.

Both have previous drug, alcohol and vehicular arrests and violations.

The child, identified as Pasek’s four-year-old son, is staying with a neighbor.

Heroin overdoses in the Buckeye State have more than tripled over the past three years with statistics showing 23 Ohio residents die each week in overdoses.  

Sources: East Liverpool Facebook page, various