Racine man accused of dumping his friend from car in blizzard after drug overdose
Jacob Boniface
RACINE (WITI) -- 22-year-old Jacob Boniface of Racine faces criminal charges -- accused of dumping his friend along the side of a road in the height of Sunday's blizzard. The friend had allegedly overdosed on heroin. Boniface is now charged with the following counts: first-degree recklessly endangering safety (repeater) and possession of narcotic drugs (repeater).
According to the criminal complaint, Boniface was asked by his friend to give "him a ride to shovel for his boss." The friend told police they also met with their dealer and bought three small bags of heroin. After using one of the bags of heroin, the complaint indicates the friend told Boniface, if he passes out that he wants Boniface to do something."
Shortly after 4 p.m., Racine police were dispatched to the neighborhood near Erie & Hubbard -- for a report of a man down. The complaint indicates "the call came in from a Jacob J. Boniface who stated that he was just a passerby and that the man appeared to be breathing but his skin was pale and blue. Boniface stated that he could not stay until we arrived. Boniface also stated that he was just a witness and that he drove up and saw him laying on the ground."
When officers arrived on the scene, the man on the ground (Boniface's friend) was "very confused" and unable to tell police what happened. Officers suspected the man had overdosed -- and gave the man a dose of Narcan. The friend was then able to start answering questions by police.
The complaint says while at the hospital, the friend's girlfriend and another man showed up. The girlfriend told police Boniface had called her and said, "(The friend) died in my car, I don't know what to do." When the girlfriend asked Boniface what happened, he said he and (the friend) bought heroin. Boniface stated, "I pushed him out of my car, tried pouring water on his face to wake him up. I couldn't wake him up, but he was breathing." The complaint indicates Boniface then called police -- and stated that he waited in the area until emergency responders showed up.
Police later located Boniface -- and the complaint says he "admitted to pulling (the friend) out of his vehicle and leaving him on the side of the road."
If convicted, Boniface faces up to 12-and-a-half years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.