Man ID’d who apparently fatally overdosed at Newport bar; employee arrested
A 25-year-old man died Friday morning a few hours after he ingested an unknown narcotic at a Newport Beach bar, authorities said.
Orange County coroner’s officials identified the man as Ahmed Said of Santa Ana, who died after being taken from American Junkie in Newport Beach to a Huntington Beach hospital early Friday.
Paramedics were called to American Junkie, at 2406 Newport Blvd., about 1 a.m. Friday after four men lost consciousness inside the Balboa Peninsula bar. The men, who authorities think had overdosed on an unknown narcotic, were taken to local hospitals.
An investigation led police to arrest Sean Robert McLaughlin, 42, who works at the bar and who police suspect provided the drug to the men, authorities said.
McLaughlin was arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter at 8:45 p.m. Friday at his home in Aliso Viejo, police said.
The investigation is continuing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Rick Henry at (949) 644-3797 or rhenry@nbpd.org.
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
