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Man Was Found Lying Nude and Unconscious in His Heroin-Filled Home, DA Says

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | September 6, 2017 2:06pm
 Police discovered 4.75 pounds of heroin and nearly $600,000 in cash inside an apartment at 63-84 Saunders St.
Police discovered 4.75 pounds of heroin and nearly $600,000 in cash inside an apartment at 63-84 Saunders St.
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DNAinfo

QUEENS — Police found a man lying naked on his kitchen floor when they searched his Rego Park apartment filled with nauseating heroin fumes that sent eight police officers to the hospital last week, court documents show.

Onix Torrellas, 39, who was arrested at the scene, also stashed 4.75 pounds of heroin and nearly $600,000 in cash inside his apartment at 63-84 Saunders St., according to his criminal complaint.

Torrellas, who police said has no criminal history, was ordered held without bail following his arraignment Tuesday, on charges including criminal possession of a controlled substance and reckless endangerment.

Police officers responded to a 911 call about a domestic dispute involving an emotionally disturbed man inside the Rego Park apartment shortly before 2 a.m. last Friday, authorities said.

According to the complaint, Torrellas, who police believe was on heroin, was lying naked and unconscious on the kitchen floor when police officers arrived. Police sources said he had to be revived with Narcan, an anti-overdose medication, before being rushed to Elmhurst Hospital.

When police entered the home, they felt nauseous, dizzy and lightheaded and had difficulty breathing, according to the Queens District Attorney's office.

Several other officers who went inside the apartment later experienced the same symptoms, police said.

In total, eight law enforcement personnel, including seven police officers and one sergeant, were taken to LIJ Forest Hills for evaluation. They were released later that day, police said.

After obtaining a search warrant, police officers recovered approximately 4.75 pounds of heroin from the kitchen and the bedroom, court documents read.

They also discovered nearly $600,000 in cash, a Ziplock bag containing cocaine in the bedroom and nearly 200 pills in the living room, which are still awaiting analysis, according to the complaint.

Torrellas is due back in court on Sept. 19.

His attorney declined to comment Wednesday.