A South Portland man arrested in connection with a suspected overdose death has been charged with fentanyl trafficking.
Stephen Lynch, 30, was charged with aggravated trafficking and possession of fentanyl, according to the South Portland police Lt. Frank Clark. Additional charges may be forthcoming.
Before his arrest, police on Saturday morning went to a South Portland residence where a 28-year-old man had died of a suspected drug overdose, Clark said.
An official cause of death will be determined by the Maine medical examiner’s office.
An investigation by South Portland police and Maine drug agents led them to Lynch, who authorities believe sold the drugs to the dead man, according to Clark.
Lynch is being held on $60,000 bail at the Cumberland County Jail in Portland, Clark said.
If ruled a fatal overdose, it will be the third in South Portland since the beginning of the year, according to Clark. The first, on Jan. 8, involved a 52-year-old man, and the second, on Feb. 26, involved a 19-year-old man. All three cases remain under investigation, Clark said.
“These serve as a tragic reminder of the stark consequences associated with drug abuse. Help is available for those in need and willing to accept it,” Clark said. “That said, the department will also continue to vigorously investigate and seek prosecution of any persons found to be trafficking or furnishing drugs in our community, drugs that all too frequently play a contributing factor in the death and serious injury of our community members.”
Anyone in South Portland who is struggling with a substance use disorder can contact Dana Baldwin, the South Portland Police Department’s civilian clinical liaison, at 799-5511, ext. 7237, Clark said.