WILLIAMSTOWN MAN CHARGED WITH STRICT LIABILITY DRUG DEATH
Press Release from Gloucester County Prosecutors Office
Gloucester County Prosecutor Charles Fiore is announcing the October 18, 2018 arrest of Dwain Somers, 36, a resident of Williamstown. Somers has been charged with one count of Strict Liability Drug Death, one count of Distribution of CDS, and one count of Possession of CDS by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office. On August 4, 2017, Monroe Township Police were dispatched to a South Main Street apartment for the report of an unconscious female. Upon arrival, they discovered Linda Ford, 57, deceased on the living room floor. Ford died from an adverse effect of drugs as a result of a heroin overdose. The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and Monroe Township Police Department, working closely together, immediately undertook an exhaustive investigation to identify Ford’s source for the illegal drugs, which caused her death. Those efforts, utilizing a number of investigative strategies, identified Dwain Somers as the source.
On Thursday, October 18, 2018, Monroe Township Police executed a search warrant at 1657 North Main Street as the result of a narcotics investigation. Dwain Somers was present, arrested and charged by Monroe Township Police with CDS-related charges based on evidence seized during the search. At the same time, Somers was charged by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office with the aforementioned charges stemming from his direct connection to the August 4, 2017 death of Linda Ford. Somers was transported to the Monroe Township Police Department, where he was processed by both the Monroe Township PD and the GCPO. He was then turned over to the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Department to be remanded to the Salem County Jail. This investigation is ongoing.
With respect to this arrest and other similar efforts currently underway, Prosecutor Fiore stated, “The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office is heavily engaged with multiple public/private partners to extend a helping hand to those who have gotten caught up in the devastating and deadly spiral of addiction. At the same time, our office, working alongside our local, county, state and federal law enforcement partners, will be relentless in identifying, apprehending and prosecuting individuals who choose, for selfish personal gain, to bring toxic heroin and fentanyl to the doorsteps of our Gloucester County communities.” Prosecutor Fiore also highlighted the exemplary efforts of, and close partnership with the Monroe Township Police Department under the leadership of Chief John McKeown. Chief McKeown added, “Every time someone overdoses, it creates a tragic ripple effect in the lives of family, friends and the community. I’m confident that we in the Monroe Township PD and our law enforcement partners will leave no stone unturned to find and prosecute those responsible for these tragic losses. We are thankful that our partnerships with the GCPO and others who help us bring closure and justice for the victims and their survivors.”