By Joe Bachman

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — A 30-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged with the 2016 reckless death of a 54-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man after overdosing on heroin.

According to police reports, on May 11, 2016, an interview was conducted with a man regarding recent heroin purchases from a man known as “Flip”, real name, Devin Phillips. On May 17, 2016, authorities responded to a possible heroin overdose in the Town of Seneca. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

After making contact with a person on the scene, he informed police that everyone there was using heroin. He stated that earlier that day that he took the victim to a nearby business to meet with Phillip to purchase heroin, and communicated with him through a Milwaukee phone number.

An autopsy would later reveal the death of the man to be directly related to heroin use. On May 24, 2016, police participated in an undercover purchase of heroin from Phillips, and took him into custody. According to reports, a week before he was arrested, once Phillips found out the man had died from the overdose, he started to “freak out” and asked for a ride back to Milwaukee.

Phillips was sentenced late last year to 12 years imprisonment for a conviction of selling heroin, and is currently serving his sentence at Racine Correctional Institution.

If convicted of first degree reckless homicide, Phillips faces up to 40 years imprisonment and up top $100,000 in fines. Further court dates are pending.