Kevin Krugel in a law enforcement photo. |
Antigo man to be cited in heroin death June 5, 2009 An Antigo man has been arrested for supplying heroin to a woman who died last month at a Merrill domestic shelter.
Kevin Krugel, 31, was taken into custody at the Antigo Police Department on Wednesday night and is currently housed in the Lincoln County Jail in connection with the May 2 death of Nicole Hedges, 29, of Tomahawk.
Her death was ruled the result of an acute heroin overdose.
Merrill Police Chief Ned Seubert said today that Krugel is expected to be charged with first degree reckless homicide and delivery of a controlled substance. A bond hearing is slated for later today followed by an initial appearance in Lincoln County Circuit Court on Monday.
“The delivery of the heroin took place during a visit with Hedges outside of the Haven Shelter which is located in the city of Merrill,” Seubert said.
Hedges was found deceased inside the shelter house after lying down for a nap. Her death was ruled accidental by Lincoln County Coroner Paul Proulx.
“We want to thank the Antigo Police Department for their assistance in this case,” Seubert said.
Antigo’s Police Chief Eric Roller and Langlade County Sheriff Bill Greening said this morning that their departments and personnel have been aware of a growing heroin problem in the area for the past several months.
They explained that law enforcement personnel have had success with curbing the flow of illegal prescription drugs in the area and that created a demand for a “new drug of choice,” and it was heroin.
Local officers and medical officials have had three close calls, where people believed to be using heroin were at death’s door and brought back to life. The death of the Merrill woman was the first confirmed from this area.
Roller and Greening stressed that their officers are continuing to work diligently on the situation locally and with enforcement officials, including Seubert in Merrill.
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