Bradenton police investigating possible heroin overdose death
BRADENTON -- Police are investigating the death of a Bradenton man -- possibly from a heroin overdose.
Investigators are awaiting confirmation from the Medical Examiner's Office about what killed Ezra Hammond, according to the Bradenton Police Department.
Hammond, 32, was found dead at 7:09 a.m. Monday by paramedics called to the apartment he shared with a roommate in the 4800 block of 50th Street West in Sawgrass Cove Apartments, according to incident reports.
At about 10 p.m. Sunday, Hammond's roommate said Hammond came home drunk, loud and dancing around. Hammond's girlfriend offered him food, but he refused so his roommate told him to go to bed.
At 7 a.m. Monday, Hammond's roommate went into his bedroom to wake him for work and realized he wasn't breathing, according to the report. When he flipped Hammond over, he realized he was dead so he called police.
Paramedics moments later declared him dead. Loose pieces of marijuana, a syringe and an empty small plastic baggie were found near his body, a paramedic reported.
The roommate told police Hammond smoked marijuana and cigarettes and drank alcohol, but he didn't know of any other drug problems. Others close to Hammond told police he had a heroin problem a few years ago but had been clean.
A crime scene technician reportedly located drug paraphernalia, including needles, spoons and baggies consistent with heroin use.
The woman who raised Hammond told police she had invited him over the day before, but he told her he was building a deck with some guys he used to do drugs with, according to the report. She told police it was possible Hammond got drugs from them.
The woman also told police Hammond had passed a drug screening test June 30.
Hammond's past troubles include a lengthy arrest history that includes charges of aggravated assault, violation of probation, driving while under the influence, domestic battery and possession of a controlled substance.
Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.
This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bradenton police investigating possible heroin overdose death."