UPDATE: Regina police respond to four overdose deaths Monday

The Regina Police Service said Monday officers responded to four overdose deaths in the city earlier in the day.

Those increased the number of deaths due to overdoses in Regina in November to 16. So far this year, the police know of 93 people who have died due to drug overdoses.

A few weeks ago, 980 CJME spoke with Cory Lindskog, the Regina Police Service’s investigator in charge of gangs, drugs and firearms. He said there is nothing concrete to definitively say what has led to more drug overdoses.

“I think it’s mostly due to COVID and the effect that that has had with the supply and demand of some of the drugs we see in the community,” Lindskog said.

“Fentanyl is readily available and that has lowered the prices quite substantially whereas cocaine and methamphetamine are a little bit harder to get right now and the prices are higher.”

According to the police, officers responded Monday just after 7 a.m., to the 1000 block of Garnet Street for a report of a dead 30-year-old man.

Then, at 9:26 a.m., police were called to the 1000 block of Edgar Street for a dead 32-year-old man.

At 9:45 a.m., police went to the 800 block of Athol Street for a report of a 36-year-old man who had died.

Then, in the afternoon, a fourth man died after an apparent overdose in the 1200 block of Rae Street.

“It’s not easy (responding as officers) because people are dying from it and the ones that aren’t are close to dying from it so it’s very difficult for our frontline officers who have to deal with it,” Lindskog said.

“In these death investigations, there is nothing at this time that connects these individuals or locations,” the police said in a media release. “In all cases, however, police believe fentanyl is involved.

“The cause of death for each deceased male will be determined by the Saskatchewan Coroners Service.”

The police reminded residents that anyone can get a Naloxone kit if they think they might see a drug overdose or experience one themselves.

As well, the police noted the Good Samaritan Overdose Act will protect anyone who is “experiencing a drug overdose from charges of possession of a controlled substance. That’s also true for anyone present while someone else is experiencing an overdose.”

Anyone with information about drug-trafficking activities in the city is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

Two men charged in drug bust

Shortly after reporting the overdoses, Regina police announced two men from British Columbia had been arrested in a drug bust in the Central Park area of the city.

Search warrants located 2,381.73 grams of methamphetamine, 355.79 grams of cocaine, 36.21 grams of fentanyl and $49,620 in Canadian money.

An 18-year-old man from Surrey, B.C., and a 19-year-old man from Vancouver were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine, possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl, and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an updated version of the story. The Regina Police Service issued a media release late Monday adding the fourth death.