Maine man charged with offering student a needle at Portland school.

Man Arrested for Offering Hypodermic Needles to Student in Portland Middle School

Police Respond to Suspicious Activity

A disturbing incident occurred at King Middle School in Portland, Maine, when a man entered the girls’ bathroom and offered a female student hypodermic needles. The suspect, identified as Jacob Horwitch, age 43, was reported to the police just before 9:00 a.m. on Monday.

Arrest and Charges

Although Horwitch had left the school before the police arrived, he was later found and arrested at the entrance of Deering Oaks Park, about a quarter mile away from the middle school. He was charged with Criminal Trespass, Violation of Privacy, and Refusing to Submit to Arrest or Detention, Physical Force. Horwitch was then taken to Cumberland County Jail.

Drug Overdose Spike in Portland

This incident is particularly concerning given the recent spike in drug overdoses in Portland. Just months earlier, the town experienced three lethal overdoses within five days, as well as six non-lethal overdoses. From the beginning of 2023 up until the first week of March, there were 96 overdoses and eleven related deaths in the town of 68,000.

Fentanyl Bust in Portland

In April, Portland police made a fentanyl bust, seizing 137 grams of the deadly drug. Officials noted that the amount of fentanyl they seized was enough to kill the entire population of the city.

Stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. Let’s work together to keep our communities safe.