Delco Man Sold Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine: District Attorney

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — A Delaware County man is facing manslaughter and drug-related charges after allegedly selling a deadly dose of fentanyl-laced cocaine to a Collingdale man earlier this year, authorities said.

District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland and Chief Kenneth Felker of the Collingdale Police Department announced the arrest of Ricky Latimer, 32, of Glenolden.

Latimer is facing charges of felony drug delivery resulting in death, involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor of the first degree, ten counts of felony delivery of a controlled substance, and ten counts of felony illegal use of a communication facility.

The drug delivery death charge carries with it a statutory maximum of 20 to 40 years in state prison.

Authorities said Latimer’s arrest comes at the heels of a three-month investigation conducted by Corporal William Carter of the Collingdale Police Department and Detective Timothy Deery of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

Latimer is accused of dealing fentanyl-laced cocaine that resulted in the fatal overdose of a 44-year-old Collingdale man on Feb 22, according to authorities.

Medics and police were called to the 1000 block of South Lynbrook Road in Collingdale for a report of a cardiac arrest at 1:25 p.m. on Feb. 22.

There, a 44-year-old male was found and pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives found the victim’s cell phone and 12 plastic bags with white powder residue, in the victim’s home.

Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Fredric N. Hellman conducted a post-mortem, examination on the deceased victim and ruled the cause of death as multiple drug intoxication, including fentanyl and cocaine.

The DA’s office said police found messages on the victim’s phone from a person named “Ricky,” who authorities allege is Ricky Latimer.

According to the DA’s office, Latimer allegedly delivered cocaine to the victim at least 10 times between Nov. 23, 2018 and Feb. 21, 2019.

Investigation revealed that on Feb. 21, Latimer delivered $100 worth of cocaine to the victim at his house, causing the victim’s overdose death, the DA’s office alleges.

Latimer has been jailed on $500,000 bail and is slated for a Jun 4 preliminary hearing, court records show.