CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- As investigators look at recent crimes in the area, they're seeing a trend. In many cases, heroin is the root of the problem.

After leading police on a foot chase last week, several people were arrested in Charleston.

Police say they were trying to deliver heroin.

According to West Virginia State Police, there have been nearly 1,200 heroin arrests since 2010.

Housing all of those inmates comes at a steep cost.

Tuesday, officials in Putnam County met to discuss the county's $300,000 jail bill. They say the increase in heroin arrests played a big role in that.

It’s not just the arrests. Another number that’s cause for concern is the number of deaths.

Troopers say at least six people have died from heroin overdoses just in the past few weeks.

There are also other deaths involving heroin; like Chris Carter who was shot to death in Huntington.

According to court documents, his girlfriend stole heroin from the suspects the day before he was murdered.

“We got the call that he'd been shot. Then come to find out he was right in the middle of a drug ring,” Clarence Carter, Chris Carter’s father, said.

Law enforcement is still trying to pinpoint exactly how the surplus of heroin is coming to West Virginia. They believe much of it is being shipped in from Detroit.