Philadelphia Man Charged With 2021 Drug Delivery Resulting in Death

Dhruve PatelDhruve Patel (Submitted Image)

LANCASTER, PA — A Philadelphia man has been arrested and charged with Drug Delivery Resulting in Death and related offenses.

The Manheim Township Police Department announced that 29-year-old Dhruve Patel of Philadelphia, PA was arrested on March 16, 2023, in connection to a death investigation.

According to the criminal complaint, on August 24, 2021, an officer was dispatched to an unconscious person on Riverside Ave. Initial reports provided that a male was acting “strange” when he arrived, then collapsed. A co-worker called 911 and attempted CPR until EMS arrived. Lancaster EMS was unable to revive the unconscious person and the person was pronounced deceased. A search warrant was obtained to search an iPhone that was found at the residence. During the analysis/review of the forensic extraction content, numerous communications between the phone’s owner, the deceased person, and “D”, later identified as Dhruve Patel, were found. A witness stated that Patel provided the fentanyl that caused the death of the deceased person. The officer reportedly overheard a conversation involving Patel and the witness, where Patel admitted to providing the drugs that the deceased ingested, causing the death of that person.

Dhruve Patel’s arraignment was at Magisterial District Judge Sponaugles’s office and bail was set at $50,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing was tentatively scheduled for April 3, 2023.

Information, a criminal complaint, or an arrest is not a declaration of guilt. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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