Woman arrested on murder charge in second overdose case

A Belle Rose woman arrested Monday by Morgan City police on a failure-to-seek-assistance charge in a January overdose has been booked on a murder charge in a second case from August.

Christen Brown, 42, La. 308, Bell Rose, was booked at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging second-degree murder in the Aug. 11 death of Harold Allen Sheets, 37, according to Morgan City police. The department said that within the past few days, it developed and corroborated information alleging that Brown administered a toxic drug that led to Sheets' death. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office helped develop that information.

Police had answered the Aug. 11 call to a Brashear Avenue address, where Sheets was declared dead at the scene. Sheets died of an apparent overdose, Morgan City police said.

On Monday, Morgan City police announced that Brown had been arrested on a charge of failure to seek assistance in another overdose case.

Investigators with the Morgan City Police Department Detectives Division began an investigation in January related to a potential overdose on opioids, the Police Department said.

According to reports, officers responded to Brashear Avenue regarding a subject who was overdosing on opioids. Officers arrived and located the subject, who was in dire need of medical attention and was showing signs of overdosing.

The subject was transported to a local medical facility and is still under medical care.

The investigation continued, and information was obtained that Brown allegedly failed to render aid to the subject overdosing, the Police Department said. Reports indicate that instead of calling for medical attention, Brown was looking for Narcan, which delayed medical attention that the subject needed. Warrants were prepared for Brown's arrest.

Brown was located in the area of Bayou Vista with the assistance of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office. She was booked and processed in the Morgan City Jail and is awaiting court proceedings.

The police press release said Chief Chad M. Adams and the Morgan City Police Department "want to make everyone aware of the dangers of opioid use. The Morgan City Police Department has seen an influx of overdoses related to opioid use such as heroin and fentanyl. These two drugs are very deadly.

"The Morgan City Police Department is equipped with Narcan, which has been deployed multiple times on overdose investigations. It is very important that anyone that is present of while someone is overdosing to immediately report it. It is required by Louisiana Law to do so. It my save their life."

Bail had been set at $100,000 in the January case. Additional bail was set at $250,000 after Wednesday's arrest.

Anyone with information on any overdose investigation is urged to contact the Morgan City Police Department Detectives Division at 985-380-4605.