Grafton cocaine/fentanyl overdoses, 1 dead, woman's face mauled by dog

Four people were taken to a hospital after overdosing on cocaine near 17th and Falls in Grafton on Saturday, May 6. Grafton police said a man, 28, later died.

GRAFTON, Wis. - Four people were taken to a hospital after overdosing on cocaine near 17th and Falls in Grafton on Saturday, May 6. Grafton police said a man, 28, later died.

Grafton Police Chief Jeff Caponera said the cocaine was laced with fentanyl, and this is moving toward a reckless homicide investigation.

Grafton police responded around 5 a.m. after a call from someone in the home reporting that four people had overdosed and one was receiving CPR.

Police arrived and used several doses of Narcan on three people in the home. Officers also saw a woman with major facial trauma from what police later learned was a dog attack.

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(Courtesy ozaukee county police/fire/ems/weatheralert)

The 28-year-old man was initially hospitalized in grave condition. The woman whose face was mauled had surgery and was listed in critical condition. Two other people were also hospitalized in fair condition, expected to survive.

"We do know that the group was partying together at a bar in the Saukville area earlier," said Chief Caponera. "We have information that the drugs were purchased at the bar."

Chief Caponera said he believes the drugs were purchased during a birthday celebration; the happy occasion turned tragic.

"If I was using substances, I would think it it all bad at this point," said Becky Rowland, North Shore Health Department.

The North Shore Health Department borders the Grafton area. Rowland said in 2022, fentanyl was the cause of nearly 80% of fatal drug overdoses in Milwaukee County. She said a sprinkle is enough to place your life in jeopardy.

Fentanyl

"What's on the books is that 2 milligrams is considered a lethal dose," said Rowland. "It's just grains compared to a penny here."

Chief Caponera said they've seen a spike in fentanyl-related overdoses in the last six months.

Health officials say it's gotten to the point that most public health departments offer NARCAN for free.

"These are human lives, and people deserve to be saved, and addiction looks a lot of different ways," said Rowland.

Grafton cocaine overdoses (Courtesy: Ozaukee County Police/Fire/EMS/WeatherAlert)

Three dogs were removed from the home and placed in quarantine at the Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus.