Two people were arrested early Monday morning after a 16-year-old died of a possible drug overdose in Petaluma and they allegedly failed to call 911, according to police.
34-year-old Danielle Foernsler, a transient, and her friend 39-year-old Robert D. Harrison, of Petaluma, were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and child endangerment.
Harrison’s roommate called 911 at around 4:15 a.m. to report that his roommate’s friend was possibly having a seizure.
The roommate told police they had just woken up and said his roommate and another friend were trying to put the victim, who did not appear to be breathing, in a car.
Authorities were dispatched to a medical call in the 20 block of Vallejo Street.
An arriving officer found the victim unconscious. The victim was then taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital where they learned he was 16 years old.
He was pronounced dead at 5:09 a.m.
The preliminary cause of death appeared to be from a drug overdose, according to police.
Police say Foernsler originally gave the officers a false name and said she was the victim’s cousin. She later admitted giving a false name because she had outstanding warrants for her arrest and then identified herself as the victim’s mother.
According to police, Foernsler knew the victim was in possession of Xanax that contained Fentanyl. She also appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic, police said.
Police say Harrison also admitted he knew that the victim had Xanax, possibly containing Fentanyl. When the victim began to suffer from an overdose, Harrison did not call for medical help, according to police.
Police also suspect Harrison was under the influence of a narcotic.
Officers also found a loaded syringe and a loaded firearm at the residence.
Both Harrison and Foernsler were arrested and transported to County Jail.
Harrison was booked for Child Endangerment, being under the influence of narcotics and possession of a loaded firearm, while possessing narcotics.
Foernsler was booked for Manslaughter, Child Endangerment, and two outstanding warrants for robbery.
The victim’s name is not being released at this time.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Walt Spiller at 707-778-4372.
Police say this was the third narcotic related overdose call since Friday that Petaluma PD and Petaluma FD have responded to.
In the past 6 months, there have been 19 other narcotic related overdose calls, of which 3 resulted in deaths. Police say a majority of these incidents are heroin overdose-related.
The department is also seeing an increase in Fentanyl related medical emergencies.