Charges: Man sold heroin in fatal Medina overdose

Hennepin County authorities have charged a 31-year-old man with murder for selling heroin that led to a fatal overdose in October.

Jaime Edward McClellan of Brooklyn Park faces third degree murder charges in Hennepin County and charges for distributing narcotics in Anoka County.

Police were called to a home in Medina, Minn., on Oct. 24 and found an adult male dead of an apparent heroin overdose. A witness told investigators that he and the victim had bought heroin together the night before. The witness identified McClellan, who went by the nickname "Red," as the supplier and said he told them to be careful with the heroin because it was "good stuff."

Police investigators used informants to purchase heroin from McClellan in a number of controlled buys in November and December, according to the complaint. Investigators said he was often present during the sales, but would use runners to deliver the heroin.

McClellan has been in custody at Anoka County jail since Dec. 16.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said heroin overdose deaths are on track to decline for the second year in a row in the county. Stanek said there had so far been 44 heroin overdose deaths this year, as compared to 50 at this time last year.

"Even one death is too much," Stanek said. "Every single heroin death is tragic, and every single heroin death is preventable."