A 26-year-old has been arrested after allegedly providing fentanyl to a man in Penrose, inadvertently causing his death.
Angel Delcid, of Alexandria, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter through the distribution of fentanyl — one of the first instances of the charge being levied in Arlington after Virginia’s criminal code was updated last year.
On Feb. 26, officers responded to a residence in the 2500 block of Arlington Blvd after a man, later identified as 25-year-old Amir Muaket, was found unresponsive inside.
Police found a white powder and unlabeled pills — later determined to be cocaine and fentanyl — at the scene, as well as other drug paraphernalia, according to a criminal complaint.
“Officers … located paraphernalia consistent with the consumption of fentanyl in the bedroom as well, to include tin foil with burn marks and residue and cut straws,” one Arlington County police officer wrote.
Investigators were able to unlock Muaket’s phone, which allegedly showed that he and Delcid had been discussing drug use before meeting up that day.
Delcid reportedly texted Muaket about “white ones,” which, an officer wrote, “can refer to pills, either prescription pills or pressed pills containing fentanyl [that] are made to look like legitimate prescription pills.”
Delcid, who was arrested April 1, allegedly told police “that he left [Muaket’s] house when he began ‘stroking out’ and acting oddly.” He was “likely describing symptoms of overdose” an officer said.
Delcid is scheduled to appear in General District Court for a preliminary hearing on May 18. If a judge finds probable cause for Delcid’s charge, the case will move to a grand jury, which will consider indictment.
Last year, state lawmakers overwhelmingly supported legislation that raised the criminal penalty for providing fentanyl-laced drugs to another person if they contribute to the person’s death. The new law took effect July 1.
