A Rochester man accused of selling heroin to a man who then died of an overdose has been charged with multiple felonies.
Demetrious Deal, 46, was charged this morning with two counts of second-degree controlled substance crime and second-degree drug sale in a park zone. He remains in custody in lieu of $40,000 bond.
Deal was arrested Thursday morning during a traffic stop near his home.
Deal is believed to have sold heroin recently to Nicholas Reid Miner, 39, of Rochester. Miner was found dead in his home about 1:15 a.m. Thursday by a roommate. An investigation into the death indicated Miner died of a heroin overdose, the report says.
Deal was immediately suspected of making the sale, thanks to cooperation with an eyewitness at the scene, said Lt. Casey Moilanen.
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Deal's home at 307 11th Ave. N.W. was placed under surveillance; he was arrested when he left the house about 9:45 a.m. The arrest was made outside the home, Moilanen said, because Deal was known to have two "very mean pit bulls" at the house.
According to the report, Deal admitted to meeting with Miner but denied selling him heroin. A subsequent search of Deal's home turned up about eight grams of heroin, Moilanen said.
Deal has a lengthy criminal record in Minnesota, including a 2001 conviction for third-degree controlled substance crime. He was sentenced to 55 months in prison.
The increasing use of heroin has raised worries nationwide, in Minnesota and in the Rochester area, where authorities say they're noticing more use.
