Erie police officers checking on a report of an unresponsive male in a parked sport-utility vehicle at Perry Square in May 2023 found a 19-year-old man dead in the driver’s seat.
An investigation would determine the man died of a drug overdose.
A review of surveillance video around the downtown Erie park and other information, including an alleged confession, would lead police on Monday to accuse a 21-year-old city man of delivering the drugs that caused the death of Sal Velez.
Dashawn L. Zigler was arraigned Monday night by Erie 3rd Ward District Judge Alison Scarpitti on felony counts of drug delivery resulting and death and possession with intent to deliver and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Erie County Prison on $75,000 bond, according to court records.
A lawyer for Zigler was not listed on his criminal docket sheet.