La Grange, NC — A La Grange man is facing serious charges in connection with the fatal overdose of a 28-year-old male, authorities report.
On Thursday, March 27, just before 7:00 a.m., Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputies, alongside Lenoir County EMS, responded to a home on Huntcliff Drive following a report of an unresponsive individual. Despite emergency personnel’s best efforts to perform life-saving measures, the 28-year-old was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are withholding his identity until they notify his family.
Investigation and Arrest of Matthew Harrell
Matthew Alex Harrell, 24, was arrested later that afternoon, around 3:30 p.m., at his home on Huntington Park Drive in La Grange. The arrest was made by members of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office’s General Investigation Division (GID), Narcotics Unit, and SCARR (Street Crimes and Ready Response) Unit.
Following a thorough investigation, evidence gathered at the scene indicated that the 28-year-old’s death was caused by a narcotic overdose. Based on this evidence, authorities were able to obtain arrest warrants and a search warrant for Harrell.
Criminal Charges
Harrell was charged with several serious offenses, including:
Felony Death by Distribution of a Controlled Substance
Felony Conspiracy to Sell/Deliver a Schedule I Controlled Substance
Felony Trafficking Opium
Felony Maintaining a Dwelling for Controlled Substances
Felony Sell/Deliver a Schedule I Controlled Substance
Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, or Deliver a Schedule VI Controlled Substance
Harrell was held under a $1 million secured bond after a court appearance on Friday morning. Authorities noted that Harrell was not initially given a bond on Thursday due to being out on pretrial release at the time of his arrest.
Sheriff’s Statement
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased victim,” said Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers. “Our entire team — including our General Investigation Division, our narcotics detectives, and our SCARR team detectives — worked extremely hard in bringing this man to justice.”
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing their efforts to address narcotic-related crimes in the area.