Dillon Quinn
TREDYFFRIN —A township man has been charged in the August overdose death of another township man, with authorities saying he brokered a Philadelphia drug deal that delivered the fatal dose to the man.
Dillon Quinn, 19, was charged Tuesday with numerous offenses including drug dealing resulting death, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan and township Superintendent of Police Anthony Giaimo announced Tuesday.
“Every drug dealer knows that the poison they are distributing could kill somebody,” Hogan said in a statement. “This is particularly true with heroin dealers. If you distribute heroin that kills somebody in Chester County, you are going to feel the full weight of the criminal justice system.”
Giaimo noted the increase in use of heroin — and the dangers — in suburban areas such as Chester County, and expressed hope that out of this tragedy and the resulting charges, it would drive home the awful fate for those who use, or deal, the drug.
“We have experienced a significant upward trend in heroin usage in the recent years,” Giaimo said in a statement. “This illegal drug consistently yields tragic results as exemplified in this case. Partnering with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, state agencies, federal agencies, and local support groups, we are fully committed to finding a holistic answer to this emerging epidemic. Further, Tredyffrin Township Police Department has been working with focus groups such as ARCH (Area Residents Caring and Helping), Chester County NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education), and Kacie’s Cause (Town Meetings) to support our community while spreading the word about this alarming drug trend.”
According to the complaint, Quinn assisted Colin Finn, 19, in arranging a meet at a SEPTA station in Overbrook with a drug dealer, described as an unidentified black male, on Aug. 7. Authorities said Quinn was given a portion of the heroin by Finn, as essentially a commission, for setting up the buy.
The next day, Aug. 8, township police officers discovered Finn at his home in the 300 block of Irish Road, Berwyn, lying face down and dead in his bed. Officers on scene found six blue wax folds with a unique stamp on them indicative of heroin packaging. The results of a forensic autopsy and toxicology screening revealed that the victim died from a heroin overdose, authorities said.
Through their investigation, in part from data on Finn’s iPhone and information from a confidential informant, officers discovered the details of the alleged meet on Aug. 7, and Quinn’s alleged role in the buy. According to the complaint, Quinn reportedly told police in a subsequent interview that he had assisted Finn in acquiring some six to eight bags of the drug, and was given two of the bags to keep for himself.
After Finn’s death, police said that Quinn told them he suspected that the drugs had caused the overdose.
“I killed my best friend,” Quinn is reported to have told police in the complaint.
Quinn was arrested by township police. He faces charges of drug delivery resulting in death, a class 1 felony, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, dealing proceeds of unlawful activities, a class one felony, and criminal use of a communication facility, a class three felony.
His bail was set at $200,000 (10%) and he was committed to Chester County Prison in Pocopson after he failed to post bail.
“This case is a grim reminder to all heroin dealers and users,” Hogan said. “Heroin will lead you straight to jail or your grave. And this applies across Chester County, from Tredyffrin to Oxford, from North Coventry to Coatesville.”
The Tredyffrin Police Department’s investigation was assisted by the Chester County Detectives. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Pierce.
