An Aspen man is in custody on suspicion of possessing and dealing heroin, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Agency, the Garfield County Sheriff's Office and the 9th Judicial District Attorney announced in a press release today.
Special agent Jeffrey Sweetin said the arrest is in connection to the heroin overdose death of Adam Peterson, which occurred March 23. This is the first time authorities have revealed that Peterson died of a drug overdose.
Ryan Welgos, 30, of Aspen, and Nelson Raul-Gamez, 24, of Aurora, were arrested last week on state narcotics charges in Silverthorne, the press release said. Authorities allege Welgos purchased 15 grams of heroin from Raul-Gamez just before they made their arrest.
“For years a small but vocal group of Aspen residents have argued that drug enforcement — and particularly DEA — is not welcome in their city,” Sweetin said in the release. “Time after time they have said there is no drug problem there. But, as this tragedy demonstrates, drug distribution and abuse are present in Aspen. And as long as they are, DEA and our willing partners will continue to investigate and prosecute drug traffickers wherever they operate — including Aspen, Colorado.”
The DEA reported that it was able to identify the source of the heroin ingested by Peterson came from Welgos. The press release also claimed there have been other heroin-triggered deaths in Aspen, although it did not provide details.
For the complete story, check out tomorrow’s Aspen Daily News.
