Police Arrest Southfield Man in Connection With Birmingham Woman's Overdose Death

A Southfield man has been arrested in connection with the overdose death of a Birmingham woman earlier last year.

According to a release from the Birmingham Police Department, Southfield resident Richard Patrick Babbie has been arrested on a charge of delivery of heroin causing death.

Police said Babbie is accused of causing the death of Tawnya Jarvis, a 37-year-old Birmingham resident living on the 2100 block of East Maple last summer.

According to the release, Birmingham police were called to the Beaumont Hospital emergency room in Royal Oak on June 26. Jarvis had been admitted to the emergency room earlier that night having suffered a drug overdose, police say, but died shortly thereafter.

Investigating detectives later discovered that Babbie, a 38-year-old from Southfield, had supplied Jarvis with drugs and helped give her a heroin shot in her Birmingham apartment earlier that evening, according to the report. Police say Babbie and another man took Jarvis to the hospital when she became unresponsive.

According to the autopsy report from the Oakland County Medical Examiner's office, Jarvis died from a heroin overdose.

Last week, on Dec. 27, the Oakland County Prosecutor's office issued a warrant for Babbie's arrest, charging him with delivery of heroin causing death. Babbie was arrested later that day in his Southfield home by Birmingham detectives.

Should he be found guilty, Babbie could face life in prison, police say.

Babbie was arraigned at the 48th District Court on Dec. 28 and was later released after posting his $30,000 cash bond. Babbie is expected in court again Jan. 4 at 8:45 a.m. in front of Judge Diane D'Agostini.