Records allege firefighter traded drugs with coworkers before wife’s OD

A erstwhile North Las Vegas firefighter charged successful his wife’s overdose death exchanged texts astir buying and taking drugs with chap firefighters earlier she died, according to expansive assemblage grounds successful the case.

Christopher Candito, 33, was indicted Aug. 4 successful Clark County District Court connected charges of second-degree execution and burglary successful the Feb. 23, 2020, decease of his wife, Tiffany Slatsky, 25. Authorities allege Candito caused his wife’s overdose by giving her morphine, past stole an opioid-overdose antidote from a North Las Vegas occurrence presumption to administer to her aft she began showing overdose symptoms.

Grand assemblage transcripts successful the lawsuit present amusement Henderson constabulary and Drug Enforcement Administration agents person been probing texts astir suspected cause transactions betwixt Candito and 2 different firefighters, arsenic good arsenic the particulars of a drug-fueled enactment attended by respective North Las Vegas firefighters astatine the Golden Nugget 2 days earlier Slatsky’s death.

The texts astir drugs were elaborate connected Candito’s cellphone, according to grounds from DEA cause David Behar.

Texts betwixt firefighters

The texts investigators recovered included messages betwixt Candito and then-North Las Vegas firefighter Andrew Clapper sent agelong earlier the Golden Nugget party. In 2019, they chatted astir “an speech of drugs,” Behar said, including an anabolic steroid, oregon “Tren,” arsenic good arsenic morphine nether the marque sanction Kadian.

“I’m going to propulsion successful 31 of the morphine 60-milligram pills,” Behar said of a substance Clapper allegedly sent to Candito successful 2019. “That mode it’s an adjacent 120 pills. Five a popular comes to $600. Hell of a deal. Don’t hide six bottles of Tren eventually. Hundred dollars a vessel of Tren equals 600. You bully with that dude?”

Candito responded to the substance saying, “yeah that’s perfect.”

In different texts, Behar said Candito chatted backmost and distant with then-North Las Vegas occurrence Capt. Nicholas Robison astir the acquisition of drugs anterior to the Golden Nugget enactment successful 2020. While questioning Behar during his testimony, a authoritative said that Robison texted Candito that helium “can’t get immoderate K. Getting 8 ball.”

Clapper and Robison person not been charged with immoderate crimes. City of North Las Vegas spokesperson Patrick Walker confirmed Wednesday that Clapper and Robison person been fired by the city. Walker said helium could not specify arsenic to wherefore they were fired due to the fact that their dismissals are unit matters.

Transparent Nevada records amusement Clapper’s full wage and benefits astatine the occurrence section successful 2019 was $176,476. Robison’s full wage and benefits for the aforesaid twelvemonth was listed arsenic $216,274.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reached retired to the national that represents North Las Vegas firefighters Wednesday seeking comment. Craig Romney, president of North Las Vegas Firefighters IAFF Local 1607, issued the pursuing statement:

“We are alert of the superior and tragic circumstances surrounding the alleged off-duty activities of immoderate of the existent and erstwhile members of the North Las Vegas Fire Department,” Romney said. “This substance is an ongoing probe conducted by the due transgression authorities. North Las Vegas Fire Fighters bash not condone the behaviour contained successful these allegations. This is not indicative of our occurrence fighters oregon the occurrence work successful general. Most important, is to enactment that this is not reflective of the good enactment the men and women of North Las Vegas Firefighters bash each time to support this community.”

Both the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office successful Las Vegas declined to remark Wednesday.

Charges against Candito

An apprehension warrant for Candito filed successful Henderson Justice Court successful July alleges that successful 2019, helium purchased morphine, MDMA, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, oxycodone, ketamine and Xanax to administer astatine the Golden Nugget party, which took spot connected Feb. 21, 2020, constabulary said.

Candito and Slatsky attended the all-night enactment with chap firefighters, the papers states. The mates continued to portion and devour morphine capsules, starring to Slatsky’s overdose, constabulary said.

When Slatsky began to overdose, Candito drove his woman 23 miles to a North Las Vegas occurrence station, wherever helium took astir $45 worthy of aesculapian supplies, including opiod-overdose antidote Narcan, constabulary said. Candito told constabulary helium tried to revive his woman with the Narcan but failed.

Behar testified to the expansive assemblage astir the all-night party, saying it was tracksuit themed and that aggregate metropolis firefighters attended. Prior to the party, Candito repeatedly texted coworkers astir doing drugs, Behar said. In 1 connection to an chartless recipient, Behar said Candito texted: “We person capable coke and Molly to termination a battalion of elephants.”

Behar besides testified astir an speech of texts betwixt the big of the party, North Las Vegas firefighter Andrew Stocker, and Candito. At 1 point, Candito texted Stocker, “I americium astir apt going to extremity up getting transported by the morning,” referencing the anticipation that Candito whitethorn person to get medically transported for treatment, Behar said.

Stocker has not been accused of immoderate wrongdoing. Walker said Wednesday that Stocker was hired by the metropolis successful January 2017 and is presently connected administrative leave. Transparent Nevada records amusement his full compensation, including benefits, was $127,173, arsenic of 2019.

‘Something needs to beryllium done’

The Clark County coroner’s bureau said Slatsky died from aggregate cause intoxication, including MDMA, morphine and cocaine.

Her mother, Tami Slatsky, said Wednesday that the household is troubled by the allegations contained successful the expansive assemblage transcripts and that she believes they amusement the request for broad cause investigating of firefighters and paramedics successful North Las Vegas.

“I would similar the assemblage cognize that thing needs to beryllium done,” she said.

Candito remains successful custody astatine the Clark County Detention Center connected $100,000 bail, jailhouse records show. A tribunal proceeding successful the lawsuit is scheduled Friday.

His attorney, Clark County nationalist defender Sarah Hawkins, could not beryllium reached for remark Wednesday.

Contact Glenn Puit by email astatine gpuit@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GlennatRJ connected Twitter.