Alleged Drug Dealer Charged In Novato Woman's Overdose Death

NOVATO, CA — A Santa Rosa man faces manslaughter and drug charges after investigators allege he supplied drugs containing fentanyl to two women who overdosed, including one who later died.

According to the Marin County Sheriff's Office, the man dropped both women off at Novato Community Hospital's emergency room on Aug. 26. Members of the specialized investigative unit responded to the hospital to assist the Novato Police Department.

The sheriff's office said one woman was pronounced dead at the hospital, and the second woman survived after being placed into a medically induced coma. Novato officers found a man in a nearby parking lot, who police said told them he had driven both victims to the emergency room. He was arrested on an unrelated drug charge and an outstanding drug charge, authorities said.

A lengthy investigation into the circumstances surrounding the overdose revealed the fentanyl was given to the women by the man who drove them to the hospital, investigators alleged Tuesday. The sheriff's office identified the suspect as Callen Scheffler of Santa Rosa.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Scheffler's arrest Friday, and he was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and transportation of sale on narcotics before posting bail.

"The Marin County Sheriff's Office and the Novato Police Department are committed to pursuing justice relentlessly and continuing our efforts to safeguard our community from the dangers of fentanyl and other narcotics," the agency said in a Facebook post. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim's family."