Overdose death leads to manslaughter charge for accused St. Catharines meth dealer

A St. Catharines man is facing manslaughter and drug trafficking charges after the overdose death of a man late last year.

On Dec. 30, Niagara Regional Police say officers were alerted to a 28-year-old man who had taken drugs and had gone into medical distress.

The man was transported to hospital where police say he died the next day.

Officers from the police Opioid Enforcement and Education Unit began investigating the case and say the cause of death was identified as Methamphetamine Toxicity.

Police say a 45-year-old and a 61-year-old were arrested on Thursday (May 18).

Thomas Kormendy, 45, of St. Catharines has been charged with:

• Two counts of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; (Crystal) Methamphetamine
• Manslaughter

Douglas McClelland, 61, of St. Catharines has been charged with:

• Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; (Crystal) Methamphetamine
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking

Officers also seized more than 25 grams of suspected Crystal Methamphetamine with an approximate street value of $2570 during the arrests, police said.

The accused are being held in custody pending a bail hearing on Friday at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in the City of St. Catharines. None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Police are asking any member of the public who may have information anonymously to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).