A Gary man is accused of selling drugs that killed a Hammond councilman’s son.
Anthony Dewayne Polk, 33, was charged Feb. 18 with dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony and dealing in cocaine, a Level 5 felony.
The case was unsealed Saturday.
His next court appearance is March 4 before Judge Natalie Bokota. He is also facing an unrelated 2019 armed robbery case.
Polk is being held without bond until March 11, when his bail will be set at $10,000 cash surety.
The victim, James “Jimmy” Woerpel, 39, of Hammond, died Jan. 7, 2024 from an overdose. A toxicology report found fentanyl, cocaine and xylazine in his system, according to court records.
Reached by phone, Hammond Councilman Dave Woerpel said he was “glad to hear” the case got charged.
Hammond Police responded Jan. 7, 2024 to the 3000 block of 163rd Place where they found Woerpel. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Investigators learned Woerpel bought heroin in Chicago. Later on, Polk swung by his home to sell him $80-$100 worth of crack, the affidavit alleges.
The next morning, Woerpel was found “slumped over” and not breathing.
Residential video showed a white Dodge Durango pulling into Woerpel’s driveway. Just after leaving, Polk went to a nearby gas station to buy something inside. Cell phone location data placed him in the area.
Days later, on Jan. 16, Polk texted a witness saying his “girl” — cocaine — was “strong.”
He denied selling drugs in a police interview, but told cops fentanyl was laced in “everything now,” according to records.
Dave Woerpel said his son struggled with drug addiction for over 20 years. Jimmy died on his grandmother’s birthday.
“It’s been terrible,” he said, as a parent “spending every hour and every day to try to keep (him) clean.”
Jimmy was “probably the kindest person you ever met in your life,” he said. “He would flock to the underprivileged, people that didn’t have much. He was very giving.”
His son’s death has made him outspoken on fentanyl awareness, working with Patty Stovall, executive director of Sounds of Sarah.
“These kids need to understand messing with that stuff can kill you,” he said.
Overdose deaths tied to fentanyl increased by 279% nationwide from 2016 to 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. In a 12-month-period ending August 2022, 107,000 people died from fentanyl-related overdose deaths, data shows.
Jimmy “struggled for a long time. I know he tried dozens and dozens of times to get clean,” he said. “That’s the thing about addiction, you know? The only disease where you don’t have a disease.”
After his son ended up in a coma from heroin 17 years ago, Dave Woerpel said he quit drinking and stayed sober, trying to set the example.
“My wife goes to the cemetery every day,” he said. “I can’t do that. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. To me, he’s not there. He’s in my heart.”
Jimmy Woerpel is also survived by two sons, three stepchildren, a younger brother, and other family, according to his obituary.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.
