Peter Baron Jr. was indicted on a third degree count of endangering another person on Thursday.
A Cherry Hill man was recently indicted for abandoning a person who was experiencing a heroin overdose in Evesham in 2017.
A Burlington County Grand Jury found that Peter Baron Jr., 35, of Cherry Hill, “did recklessly engage in conduct which created a substantial risk of death to another person.” Baron was indicted on one third degree count of endangering another person. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court.
The investigation revealed that Baron carried the victim from a car and placed him inside the foyer of a home on Bartram Road in Evesham just after 11 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2017. Baron then fled without calling for medical help.
A witness alerted Evesham Township Police, and responding officers revived the victim by administering multiple doses of Narcan.
The State of New Jersey enacted a law in 2013 known as the Overdose Prevention Act, which encourages people to report drug overdoses without fear of being arrested. Under the measure, known informally as the Good Samaritan law, those who call 911 to report overdoses will be immune from arrest and prosecution for drug possession or usage. The law also applies to people who call for help themselves while overdosing.
“Remember this phrase: ‘Don’t run, call 911’,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “There is no acceptable reason for anyone who witnesses an overdose to fail to seek help for the person who is suffering. The victim in this case was extremely fortunate that police were alerted and effectively utilized their training to save his life.”
