PIQUA — The Piqua Police Department is continuing to hold alleged drug traffickers accountable when someone passes away from a drug overdose, after charging a local man with involuntary manslaughter.

A preliminary hearing was held this week for Darin W. Reineke, 49, with previous addresses listed in Piqua and Sidney, for first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter and fifth-degree felony trafficking in drugs. According to Miami County Municipal Court records, Reineke is accused of providing Tabatha A. Murphy, 45, of Piqua, with heroin, which resulted in her overdose death on Feb. 1.

“This is one of things we warned people we would be doing starting about 18 months ago now,” Chief of Police Bruce Jamison of the Piqua Police Department said.

Jamison explained that this is one of the events related to the Piqua Police Department’s reduction strategy in response to the heroin epidemic. This strategy includes charging suspected traffickers with involuntary manslaughter if an investigation reveals that they supplied someone with heroin or other drugs, which then resulted in the victim’s death.

“This is the latest arrest related to a heroin overdose,” Jamison said. “We concentrate on traffickers more so than users.”

The Piqua Police Department responded to the 200 block of Manning Street on Feb. 1, at approximately 7 p.m. on a report of a possible physical altercation, and upon arrival, officers found Murphy unresponsive with Reineke. Reineke and Murphy were reportedly living together in the residence. According to court records, multiple syringes and empty gel capsules were in plain view. They were collected as evidence. Cell phones and cell phone records were also collected as evidence.

The investigation lasted approximately three months. Charges were filed against Reineke in May, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail in late May, where he is being held on $255,000 bond.

Reineke’s preliminary hearing was continued to Feb. 14.