GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. – Three employees at a Grosse Pointe Woods pizzeria died over the weekend, leaving residents wondering what happened.
Some were speculating it may be related to the fentanyl crisis that was plaguing many communities, but police don’t seem convinced just yet.
In 2020 police in the Pointes warned that they found cocaine laced with deadly fentanyl and linked to several deaths.
But three young friends working at the same pizzeria died on Saturday (June 10), while two of their friends died weeks prior.
“Everybody wants to know what happened so that they can have informed conversations with their children,” said Grosse Pointe Woods resident Jane Berger.
Berger wants Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety to issue a public health emergency, an urgent warning to young people that drugs like cocaine making their way through the area is possibly laced with deadly fentanyl.
After Saturday night, Berger said she watched police and EMS rush to the house next door on a call that a young woman was found dead.
“We are just really sad,” Berger said.
But that was just the beginning, as, on Saturday night, that same caller directed police to another woman who too was found dead at another home along with a young man and woman found dead at a home just blocks away on Canterbury.
“Callers still on the phone reporting both addresses possible overdoses,” said police dispatchers.
As officers and medics rushed to both homes, police issued a dire warning to officers responding.
“All officers take caution, extreme caution with the fentanyl, possible fentanyl,” said police dispatchers.
Friends told Local 4 that all three friends worked at Saucy’s Pizza on Mack Avenue.
The pizza place posted a statement on its Facebook page saying:
“Over the weekend, our family lost three young beautiful members. We will be closed this week so that we can be here for each other during this immensely difficult time. We appreciate your patience and support. Saucy’s will always be home to the misfit family members.”
Friends told Local 4 that the two dead women were sisters while the young man was a close friend. All three were in their 20s.
But in May, another friend from the same group we are told died from what friends said was a fentanyl overdose. And the sisters who died over the weekend, one of their friends just lost one of her sisters.
Friends say all of them ran in the same circles and went out to the same area bars.
“We got one down on the porch on Canterbury,” said police dispatchers. “We have one down on the upper-level bedroom.”
“Step one is don’t do drugs,” Berger said. “Step two is if there laced fentanyl or with lethal drugs, people need to understand that so they can really think hard about partaking in that kind of activity.”
Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety is asking anyone with information to contact them.
Saucy’s is using pizza proceeds to help with funeral expenses.
Signs of an opioid overdose
According to the CDC, the following are signs of an opioid overdose:
- Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
- Falling asleep or losing consciousness
- Slow, weak or no breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Limp body
- Cold and/or clammy skin
- Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)
If you believe someone is experiencing an overdose, you should call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if it’s available. Try to keep them awake and breathing, move them to their side to prevent choking and stay with them until help arrives.
Michigan passed a Good Samaritan law in 2016. It prevents drug possession charges against those who seek medical assistance for an overdose in certain circumstances.
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How to get free naloxone in Michigan
Naloxone, also known by brand names Narcan and Evzio, is a life-saving medication that is used to reverse the effect of an opioid overdose.
In 2016, Michigan passed a law that allows pharmacists to dispense naloxone without an individual prescription and without identifying the patient. Family, friends or others can get naloxone to use in an emergency.
NEXT Distro and Grand Rapids Red Project work together to get naloxone to people who use drugs and their family members. Click here to find resources near you or to get free naloxone mailed to you.
Michigan has shared the list of pharmacies approved to dispense naloxone, you can view that list online right here.
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Testing drugs for fentanyl
It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been laced with fentanyl unless you test them with fentanyl test strips, according to the CDC.
The test strips were originally intended for urine drug tests, but they’re being used off-label to help reduce the harm that the drugs can cause.
Test strips are cheap and can provide results within five minutes. The CDC said to remain cautious even with a negative test, because test strips might not detect more potent fentanyl-like drugs, such as carfentanil. Test strips can also show false positives or false negatives.
Fentanyl has been found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills and other street drugs.
Learn more from these resources:
