Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- A Utah County man was arrested for allegedly supplying fentanyl that caused a fatal overdose.
- Darik Allan Ottens was arrested for investigation of manslaughter, drug possession and drug distribution.
- The informant's overdose led to a search at Ottens' residence.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN — An Eagle Mountain man was arrested early Tuesday after police say he provided fentanyl to a Midvale woman who suffered a fatal overdose.
Darik Allan Ottens, 41, was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of manslaughter, drug possession with intent to distribute, three counts of drug distribution and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Detectives with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force said they were told two weeks ago by a woman that Ottens was distributing fentanyl powder. The woman said she obtained fentanyl from him in Orem and later suffered an overdose in South Jordan, according to a police booking affidavit.
"South Jordan police responded and found the victim unconscious, not breathing. Paramedics were able to administer Narcan and the victim survived," the affidavit states.
After she was released from a local hospital, the woman told police she'd be willing to be an informant. Over the past week, she conducted two drug buys from Ottens under the direction of detectives, according to the affidavit.
"These controlled buys resulted in fentanyl powder being seized both times," the affidavit states. "These controlled buys were later used to apply for a search warrant of Darik's residence."
On Sunday, however, police responded to a report of an overdose in Orem and found their informant.
"Narcan was administered but was not successful," they wrote in the affidavit.
Detectives searched the woman's phone and "checked messages with Darik where the victim reached out to Darik. The victim reached out to Darik and asked him to bring her some fentanyl at her residence," according to the affidavit. "Darik texted the victim and stated, 'This stuff is better than the other.'"
Later that day, investigators served a search warrant on Ottens' home in Eagle Mountain.
"Detectives then located fentanyl, burnt tin foil, and a tooter. The fentanyl appeared to be the same powder that detectives purchased with the victim during the controlled buys," the affidavit says.
"Darik admitted to detectives that he knows the risk to the potency with fentanyl and the victim explained that Darik told her to delete the victim's messages after he supplies in case they overdose, as they have overdosed before in South Jordan," the arrest report states.
