Charges filed after retired Fire Chief found giving Narcan to man who overdosed

LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) - An arrest warrant has been issued for a man who has been charged with trafficking fentanyl after a retired Fire Chief was found istering Narcan to him in the parking lot of a Liberty shopping center.

Clay County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Tuesday, Feb. 4, have revealed that Ricardo Soto, 26, of Kansas City, has been charged with trafficking drugs following a fentanyl overdose.

A probable cause statement filed by the Liberty Police Department indicated that around 8:20 pm. on Dec. 16, emergency crews were called to a shopping center along 291 Highway in Liberty with reports of an overdose.

When first responders arrived, they said they found the city’s retired Fire Chief had istered Narcan to Soto in the parking lot before he was loaded onto a gurney and taken to a nearby hospital.

Witnesses reported Soto had allegedly accidentally snorted fentanyl before he fell unconscious. He had been known to overdose on the drug in the past. As he was treated by paramedics, various narcotics were found in his possession.

Investigators noted that among the narcotics found in Soto’s possession, 7.39 grams of fentanyl were found - enough to kill more than 3,500 people with a street value of over $1,000.

As a result, Soto has been charged with trafficking drugs. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. A warrant was issued for his arrest on Wednesday with a $25,000 bond attached. However, he does not appear to be behind bars yet.

A hearing has not yet been scheduled in Soto’s case. No further information has been released.

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