A woman who overdosed on heroin in the Cheektowaga police and court parking lot on Wednesday will not face drug charges.
Investigators tell 7 Eyewitness News that's because of New York's Good Samaritan Law. The law says when 911 is called for someone suffering from a drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency, neither the caller nor the patient will be charged.
"Saving lives is far, far, far more important than prosecuting somebody for a minor drug offense," said Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty.
The DA says when police respond to a Good Samaritan call they do confiscate any drugs or contraband, but cannot arrest someone.
7 Eyewitness News cameras were rolling in Cheektowaga when first responders saved the woman's life with Narcan and again on Friday in Buffalo when a man was saved after overdosing and crashing into a parked car.
It's unclear if charges will be filed in the Buffalo case.
In 2015, Narcan was administered roughly 700 in Buffalo alone.
