In a drug bust grappling with Austin's overdose epidemic, police have cuffed two suspects linked to the wave of narcotics-related distress calls across the city. According to a recent report by CBS Austin, 55-year-old Johnny Lee Wright and a second suspect, who remains nameless, were arrested following a torrent of suspected opioid overdoses totaling 79 cases and including nine deaths since the start of the week. A sting by the APD Narcotics Unit netted 3 grams of crack cocaine mixed with fentanyl, the potent synthetic opiate often fingered in overdose cases. Toxicology results from the Medical Examiner's Office are awaited to confirm fentanyl's implication in the deaths. Officials haven't pinned the distribution on any single group in Austin. CBS Austin details that the police are still hunting down dealers across the city through undercover ops, hoping to trace back to the fentanyl's source.
Amidst the overdose outbreak, broad daylight didn't deter Johnny Wright and 26-year-old Brandi Brite from allegedly dealing with death on Austin's streets. Following a flurry of distress calls - eight suspected OD victims within four blocks and just hours - Wright was apprehended while toting a handgun. FOX 7 Austin reports that officers used HALO camera footage to observe Brite engaging in what looked like drug transactions, then passing the goods to Wright for delivery to opioid seekers. Wright's history of felony convictions adds gravity to his charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. At this time, there's still no word on Brite's whereabouts. FOX 7 Austin captures the essence of this chilling episode in the ongoing battle against illegal drugs in the city. Wright, who has seen the inside of a jail cell before, struck a chord with the law once more as he found himself in cuffs for carrying a piece improperly. His bond is set at $10,000 for the firearms charge.
A breakdown of the suspects' rap sheets from CBS Austin shows Wright landed in Travis County Jail on April 29, and he is charged with possession of a controlled substance, a felony that can land one a significant prison stretch. The second, unidentified suspect is facing similar charges. Police brass have signaled an update on the arrest score is incoming next Monday. As law enforcement continues to grapple with the crisis, the community holds its breath, waiting for the next move in the deadly chess game between the police and those who lace the streets with peril.
