Man Faces Felony Drug Charges After Friend Overdoses

A man is accused of abusing heroin and corrupting others with drugs after a friend of his overdosed at  hotel.

Steven Gatchel, 18, of Painesville, was arraigned on the felony drug charges Monday in .

However, the incident from which the charges stem happened on Oct. 12.

Gatchel, Timothy Throop,  and  discussed getting some heroin that day, Mentor Police Lt. Tom Powers said.

"Gatchel says, 'I know someone we can get it from,'" Powers said.

So the quartet drove to Cleveland, bought heroin from someone Gatchel knows and returned to Mentor, Powers said. Then the four used it at the hotel.

Throop, 19, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, overdosed, Powers said. They called paramedics who took Throop to Lake West Medical Center where he recovered.

Since that day, , Powers said. They both face charges of drug abuse, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and child endangerment.

Throop has also had a charge of drug abuse filed against him in Mentor Municipal Court. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Gatchel was brought in on a warrant over the weekend. Judge John Trebets set his bond at $55,000, which has not been posted.

If convicted of both charges, Gatchel faces between two and nine years in prison.

The following arrest information was supplied by the Mentor Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. For questions about this story, email jason.lea@patch.com.