Crime & Safety

Drug Dealer Charged with 2012 Overdose Caught by Chicago Police

A warrant for Devon McFerrin was issued in February 2013 after police charged him with third-degree in the overdose death of a Hopkins man.

The 31-year-old Minneapolis man accused of selling the cocaine that killed a Hopkins man in a 2012 overdose has been arrested, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

Devon McFerrin was arrested Aug. 2 in Chicago on a warrant for third-degree murder for the Feb. 20, 2012 overdose death of Timothy C. St. John. The warrant was issued in February 2013.

As previously reported by Patch, the person who reported the overdose death said that a few hours before officers arrived, the victim had used heroin purchased from a dealer named “Church” at the Pennwood Market in Minneapolis. In the course of the investigation, police learned that there was a “prolific heroin dealer” nicknamed “Church” and later learned that Devon McFerrin was the dealer’s real name, according to court documents. A DNA analysis of baggie tear-offs found on the victim showed that the predominant male DNA profile matched McFerrin’s profile.

McFerrin was featured on Hennepin County's Most Wanted List earlier this year. It is believed that this is the first time that a case of this kind had appeared on the Hennepin County Most Wanted List, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

According to a sheriff's office release, McFerrin was driving a vehicle when he was stopped by Chicago Police. During the stop, he provided an alias and he was later fingerprinted. Once his identification was confirmed, he was booked into the Cook County jail.

“The Sheriff’s Office works in partnership with law enforcement agencies nationwide to locate and arrest wanted individuals,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek in the release. “This case is a reminder that we need your information about wanted fugitives even if you believe that they have fled to another state.”

Related article on Hopkins Patch:


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