Boogaard's brother charged in overdose probe

Aaron Boogaard has been charged with a felony and a gross misdemeanor in connection with the overdose death of his brother, former NHL strongman Derek Boogaard.

According to the charges filed Friday in Hennepin County, Aaron Boogaard gave his brother Derek a powerful painkiller the night before Derek Boogaard was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment on May 13.

Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman says Aaron Boogaard gave Derek Boogaard a pill containing oxycodone before Derek Boogaard went out on a drinking binge. But Freeman says that doesn't mean Aaron Boogaard is directly responsible for his brother's death.

"In order to charge a homicide or manslaughter, you have to show that the illegal conduct was a direct cause of death," Freeman said. "He had too much other drugs in his body and too much other alcohol to fairly charge him in our view."

Aaron Boogaard is charged with a third-degree felony drug charge and a gross misdemeanor for allegedly flushing some of the painkillers down the toilet at the scene of Derek Boogaard's death.

He's being held until he can post a $10,000 bond.