Suspects in multiple fentanyl overdose deaths arrested in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Suspects in an investigation that began in 2022 related to multiple fentanyl overdose deaths were arrested in Colorado Springs Thursday.

According to Colorado Springs police, Hailee Helton and Thomas Galiano III were identified as the suspects in a fentanyl overdose death investigation in El Paso County. That investigation began in August 2022, and Helton and Galiano were also identified as suspects in another overdose in Pueblo County.

Police said due to the complexity of the case, federal arrest warrants for the pair were issued in August 2023 for the unlawful distribution of fentanyl resulting in death in both El Paso and Pueblo counties. Officials said Helton and Galiano eluded law enforcement and were featured in Pikes Peaks Most Wanted.

Detectives said they obtained information on Thursday that led to the whereabouts of the suspects, and when they contacted the residence on South 18th Street the suspects were in, the pair fled on foot.

Officials said multiple units of officers aided in the apprehension of the suspects, and they were taken into custody after a brief foot chase.

Helton and Galiano were both booked into the El Paso County jail as of this article’s last update. At that time, no information for Helton was available in jail records, but records showed Gailiano was being held on no bond.