Police: York woman beaten while OD'ing on carfentanil

A York City woman was attacked and seriously hurt while overdosing on an opioid elephant tranquilizer — an assault that forced her to undergo months of medical treatment, police said.

York City Police said it happened overnight Jan. 20 at an apartment in the 400 block of West King Street.

The woman said she went to see her friend, Trisha Nicole George, at that apartment and also saw George's boyfriend, Christopher Waltz, there, according to charging documents.

While there, Waltz apparently "provided her with a quantity of heroin," documents state.

After snorting what she thought was heroin — but which was later determined to be the powerful synthetic opioid carfentanil — the woman started to overdose, police said.

Attacked: While the woman was in the throes of overdosing, George struck her repeatedly in the head and upper body, "causing serious bodily injuries" to the woman that required hospitalization and months of follow-up medical treatment, documents state.

The woman told officers that when she regained consciousness, she realized water had been thrown on her and that she was wearing only a bra and underwear, according to charging documents.

The woman said she was unsure if she'd been sexually assaulted, police said.

Documents don't state what might have prompted the attack on the woman.

About the drug: Carfentanil is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times more potent than heroin, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

It can be fatal in low doses and is used to sedate large animals, including elephants, officials have said.

"Carfentanil and other fentanyl-related compounds are a serious danger to public safety, first responder, medical, treatment and laboratory personnel," according to the DEA, and "can be absorbed through the skin or accidental inhalation of airborne powder."

More:Coroner: First confirmed carfentanil death in York County

Both George and Waltz are now wanted on felony warrants, according to police, who filed charges against them on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

George, 30, now of the 600 block of North Pershing Avenue, will be charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment, according to court records.

Waltz, 29, with an address in Winter Haven, Florida, will be charged with opioid possession with intent to deliver and reckless endangerment.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of either George or Waltz can call 911.

— Reach Liz Evans Scolforo at levans@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter at @LizScolforoYD.