Iowa City man faces drug charges after near-fatal overdose

IOWA CITY - Months after he nearly fatally overdosed on heroin, an Iowa City man has been arrested on drug charges.

According to an Iowa City Police Department criminal complaint, on Feb. 19, 2014, police responded to a medical call at 1131 Third Ave. for an apparent heroin overdose. The victim - 36-year-old John R. Schoeffler - was given a drug to counteract his overdose and taken to the hospital, where he recovered.

Police said while searching Schoeffler's residence, they recovered metal spoons, tin foil, needles and straws containing residue; all items commonly used to ingest heroin. A number of items were sent to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation lab, where they tested positive for the presence of heroin, police said.

Schoeffler admitted that some of the items that tested positive for heroin were 'likely his,” police said. He was arrested on Sunday and faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.