3 Men Found Dead Near Panhandle [Updated]

3 Men Found Dead Near Panhandle [Updated]Photo: Google
Camden Avery
Published on February 22, 2018

As reported by NBC Bay Area, three unidentified men were found dead this morning near the Urban School and Arc Mercy Community housing at 1500 Page St.

Police responded to the scene early this morning and were still there around 7:30am, according to passersby.

Department spokesman Officer Robert Rueca confirmed by phone that police responded to a call around 4:35 this morning "regarding three unresponsive individuals on the sidewalk." Emergency medical technicians pronounced them dead at the scene.

"The medical examiner is conducting an investigation," Rueca said. "At this point we've found no evidence of foul play."

None of the individuals were connected to the adjacent properties, he said, adding that no immediate threat faces the school or surrounding neighborhood.

Update, 3:20pm: 

Though the medical examiner's report on the three victims is still unavailable, the San Francisco Department of Public Health issued a statement this afternoon that the deaths were "likely drug related," and that the city was "concerned about possible fentanyl poisoning."

DPH spokesperson Rachel Kagan said the city "is alerting health care providers and the drug user community about the dangers of fentanyl and how to take precautions."

The warning goes on:

Fentanyl is an extremely potent, short-acting opioid that can cause overdose and death. It is often used to cut other drugs. Fentanyl has been increasingly present in street drugs in San Francisco, including methamphetamine, cocaine, benzodiazepines (including Xanax), prescription opioids and heroin. Consumers may be unaware that they have purchased fentanyl, which puts them in danger of overdose or death, since the dosing levels are significantly different.

If caught in time, overdoses can by reversed by administering naxolone, or Narcan. DPH also released the following safety tips for people who use drugs:

  • Carry naloxone (Narcan) to reverse overdose
  • Try a tester dose first to make sure drugs work as expected and are not spiked
  • Don’t use drugs alone, and stagger use in a group so that someone is always alert to help others if needed
  • Test drugs for fentanyl with tester strips