(La Porte, IN) - The selling of fentanyl in La Porte has allegedly happened not just from a barber shop but now during a youth football practice.

 

Michael Ortiz, Jr., 32, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with dealing in a narcotic drug and was being held on a $100,000 bond.

 

According to court documents, Ortiz, on August 8, was watching his son at football practice on the grounds of the former Boston Middle School at 1000 Harrison Street. The La Porte man and alleged buyer agreed to a $200 purchase while communicating on Facebook Messenger.

 

Police said Ortiz agreed to conduct the transaction during football practice since he was watching his son. Ortiz allegedly walked over to a vehicle that had just pulled into the former school's parking lot and gave the buyer ten blue-colored fentanyl pills for $200 through the passenger side window.

 

Angel Duarte, 32, is facing similar charges in La Porte Circuit Court for allegedly selling fentanyl pills on two separate occasions from his barber shop, "Angel Cutz," on Ohio St. on the city's east side.

 

Police said the transactions, each for $240, occurred in late July.

 

According to investigators, the fentanyl was from Mexico.