Suspect sought after multiple people overdose in downtown core

London police issued a public safety advisory after a person handed out a free substance in the downtown core Wednesday, leading to multiple overdoses.

Police are looking to identify a suspect who allegedly supplied multiple people with a free substance in the downtown core Wednesday morning, leading to multiple overdoses.

According to a news release, members of the London Police Service Uniformed Division responded to the downtown core shortly after 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday following an increase in non-fatal overdoses.

Officers learned a suspect driving a vehicle provided a free substance to multiple people before leaving the downtown area.

Police say several people who ingested the substance subsequently overdosed and required medical care.

The situation prompted a code orange alert at London Health Science Centre, issued due to an expected surge in patients.

Police are urging anyone who may have received the free substance or have been approached by someone offering the free substance to not ingest or use it and to call London police.

The investigation has been reassigned to the LPS Patrol Operations Investigative Section and officers are working to obtain a description of the suspect vehicle and driver.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information in relation to this investigation or may have dash cam footage, residential or business video surveillance in the downtown core that may assist with this investigation to call the London Police Service.

Police remind members of the public to remain vigilant and if approached by someone offering a free substance to call 911.

“We are concerned about the substances that are being put out on the streets. And thus we want to inform the public, to make them aware of our concerns,” said Insp. Adam Steele with London police.

The investigation remains ongoing, and police say more information will be provided as appropriate.

A statement from LHSC

“Earlier today and in conjunction with partner agencies within the City of London, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) participated in a code orange alert response to a developing situation in the community involving individuals who attended hospital experiencing non-fatal drug overdoses. To protect patient privacy and confidentiality, we’re unable to share further details, and the code orange alert has since ended.

While we understand that incidents necessitating this form of response may be unsettling, we want to assure you Team LHSC stands ready to respond to the community’s needs. Our dedicated physicians and staff are always prepared to respond to surges in patient volumes, and we have policies and procedures in place to assist us in addressing patient flow and capacity challenges.

As the circumstances of this incident are currently under investigation, any further questions should be directed to the London Police Service (LPS)," said LHSC Department Head of Emergency Medicine Dr. Christie MacDonald in a statement to CTV News.

With files from CTV News London’s Gerry Dewan