Man found dead at library may have OD’d

By Bonnie L. Cook, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Posted: May 12, 2012

A drug overdose may have caused the death of a homeless man found early this morning on the steps of the Norristown Public Library, according to Montgomery County officials.

Norristown Police Chief Russell Bono said a security guard making rounds at 7 a.m. found the 46-year-old man on the rear steps of the library at Powell and Swede Streets. The body was surrounded by empty drug packets, Bono said.

Police were withholding the man’s identity until his family could be located. The man previously lived in East Norriton Township, and spent time in Norristown’s shelters for the homeless. Bono said the man may have been living on the streets.

There were no signs of weapons or bodily injuries, and no indication of robbery or foul play, Bono said. The man’s clothing was not in disarray.

“It’s sad, but we really don’t think there’s anything suspicious,” Bono said. “It was just an overdose.”

Library patrons who arrived later were not aware of the man’s death, Bono said.

Contact Bonnie L. Cook at 610-313-8232 or bcook@phillynews.com. Read her blog MontCo Memo at www.philly.com.