Monongahela woman arrested after man dies of suspected overdose
A Monongahela woman was arrested by city police on drug charges Sunday for allegedly concealing almost 40 bags of suspected heroin after a man died of an apparent drug overdose in her home.
Carlie M. Dudich, 25, of 448 Wisconsin St., is charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession of paraphernalia, obstruction of the administration of justice and tampering with evidence.
Police responded to the home after the 911 center got a third-party call from Mon Valley EMS, which received a call at their station about an unresponsive man at the residence.
When police arrived, Dudich ran to the door and allowed police to enter the home. Police spotted Thomas Nolle, 34, of Pittsburgh, dead on the living room floor.
Police said Officer Ryan Lenzi spoke with Dudich, advising her of the immunity clause, or Good Samaritan law, that would allow her to turn over any drugs or paraphernalia to police without being arrested. When asked if there was anything near the body she might have removed, such as a stamp bag or needle, Dudich reportedly told police she picked up a needle that was near Nolle’s body and put it in his hooded sweatshirt.
When asked again if there had been anything else around the body, Dudich allegedly responded, “No, I swear to you.”
As they waited for the coroner, Lenzi said he spotted a small cellophane bag behind the television in the living room. When the officer told Dudich they would be checking where Nolle had been found and going through his belongings upstairs after the coroner arrived, she reportedly became nervous. Dudich told police she wanted to go upstairs and get a hooded shirt, and police said they found her in a bedroom with a cigarette pack containing 39 stamp bags of suspected heroin. The stamp on those bags matched the stamp on a bag found in Nolle’s pocket, police said.
“The Good Samaritan Act says that if you call for help and stay on the scene, that as long as you cooperate, you won’t be charged,” said Chief Brian Tempest. “The officer continued to explain to her about the immunity clause and asked if there were any drugs. She wouldn’t have been charged if she turned it over.”
Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said his office if looking for Nolle’s next-of-kin. Anyone with information is asked to call 724-228-6785.
Dudich was arraigned before District Judge David Mark and released from Washington County jail Monday after posting $100,000 bond. She is scheduled for an April 26 preliminary hearing before District Judge James Ellis.