More information has been released about the suspected narcotics exposure at a traffic stop which may have caused two Auburn Hills police officers to become ill and transported to a local hospital for treatment earlier this week.
Lt. Brandon Hollenbeck with the Auburn Hills Police Department told The Oakland Press that a passenger in the vehicle pulled over Monday evening on Pontiac Road had fentanyl and cocaine on her person, and that it’s believed the officers somehow came into contact with it on the scene. After showing adverse reactions, the officers were transported to a local hospital for treatment. They were released that night and back to work the next day.
Hollenbeck said the first officer became dizzy and felt ill after finding narcotics on the passenger, identified as 34-year-old Deontra Smith of Pontiac. Moments earlier, the officer had arrested Smith on outstanding warrants and searched her. Once the officer started feeling sick, her partner administered Narcan — used to treat narcotics overdose — and called for backup, drawing response from a number of law enforcement and fire department personnel. While the first officer was en route to the hospital, the second officer began to show the same symptoms, was administered Narcan and then taken to the hospital too, Hollenbeck said.
Details on the two officers’ medical treatment weren’t released, though Hollenbeck said it’s assumed it was for exposure to narcotics, as suspected.
It’s not clear how such an exposure may have occurred to cause the symptoms — and the officers had been wearing protective gloves, he said. But had it not been for Narcan being available on the scene, the officers may have suffered dire consequences, Hollenbeck added.
“It was a very fortunate outcome. We were prepared for the situation that presented itself, Hollenbeck said. “The situation could have been much, much worse but thankfully, our officers were prepared. Narcan is carried (by officers) to save people’s lives, but we don’t expect to use it on each other.”
Meanwhile, Smith is in the Oakland County Jail, charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance–narcotics/cocaine/ heroin–less than 25 grams. At arraignment Thursday, Judge Lisa Asadoorian set bond at $50,000 cash or surety. Smith is due back in court on May 23 for a probable cause conference, and a preliminary exam is scheduled for a week later.
Hollenbeck said no charges were filed for the possible drug exposure to the police officers.
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