RACINE — A 39-year-old Racine man with a criminal history that dates back to 2002 now faces three new charges, including one for felony possession with intent to deliver fentanyl that carries a maximum possible prison term of 25 years and a $100,000 fine.
Dwight Rouse remains in custody in the Racine County Jail on a $3,000 cash bond. In addition to the fentanyl charge, Rouse is charged with felony possession of narcotic drugs, which carries three years and six months in prison and a $10,000 fine, along with a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Criminal court records show 11 previous convictions for Rouse, beginning in August of 2002. Those same records indicate that Rouse has been held in custody on 10 separate occasions.
The criminal complaint: Rollover crash investigation uncovers fentanyl, other narcotics and more
Racine Police Department officers responded to a rollover crash in the 2400 block of Douglas Avenue on March 1. Rouse was identified as the vehicle’s driver.
Video footage showed Rouse was southbound on Douglas, then “for no apparent reason,” traveled into the northbound lane, then onto the east sidewalk where he struck a tree. After the collision, the vehicle rolled over, which caused “significant damage.”
After the vehicle came to rest, Rouse exited, walked into a yard, then back to the sidewalk.
Officers found a narcotics kit in the grassy area of a Douglas Avenue residence where they found Rouse walking with a small backpack. Inside that backpack, police found two $20 bills, a torch lighter, a digital scale and a small case that contained what later tested positive for 24.5 grams of fentanyl.
Inside the vehicle, police found 20 pills that later tested positive for 30 mg of oxycodone, along with two cell phones. Rouse also had $2,120 in cash in his possession.
When police spoke to Rouse, they observed he was “confused, slow and had slurred speech.” He performed field sobriety tests and was arrested for operating while impaired. Rouse then was taken to the hospital for a legal blood draw to determine his level of intoxication.
Results of that test were not included in the criminal complaint.
Rouse, who pleaded not guilty on March 13, is due back in Racine County Circuit Court on May 14, for an 8:30 a.m. status conference.
Dangers of fentanyl
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has one of the deadliest reputations due to potency, illicit manufacturing and uncontrolled amounts turning up in other street drugs like heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a 2 mg dose is enough to cause death in an average adult.
The human rights organization Harm Reduction Ohio explains the dangers of fentanyl in street drugs.
A 50 microgram dose of fentanyl contains about 90,000,000,000,000,000 fentanyl molecules. Molecules are sticky and tend to clump together, like magnets do.
To equally mix 90 quadrillion fentanyl molecules with molecules of another powder requires an extra step — putting all the powder into a liquid, shaking up the liquid and then re-evaporating everything back into a powder. Shaking in a liquid is required to separate fentanyl molecules and eliminate hot spots.
This step is not done in illegal drug markets, so “hot spots” remain a serious problem.
Resources
Racine County Behavioral Health Services offers substance abuse services. To schedule an appointment, contact Behavioral Health Services of Racine County at 262-638-6744 between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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