Brandon Creech: Deputy 'fell ill and suddenly collapsed' after PATTING DOWN suspect hiding fentanyl
RICHMOND, INDIANA: A Wayne County jail deputy, Brandon Creech, got hospitalized after being exposed to fentanyl while patting down a suspect named Daniel Cox. Creech was booking the suspect, arrested by the Richmond Police Department and taken to the Wayne County Jail, when he found a small grinder and a baggie containing what was described as an ‘unknown powdery substance’.
In a Facebook post, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said the substance was identified as containing fentanyl. The post read, "The substance was field tested which revealed an indication of fentanyl. During the continuing book-in process and within just a few short minutes, Deputy Creech began to feel ill and suddenly collapsed. Jail deputies, medical staff and the RPD officer immediately began administering aid to Deputy Creech. Three doses of Narcan were administered which improved his condition. Deputy Creech was transported to Reid Health Hospital for evaluation and treatment. He was released a few hours later. This incident is being investigated further to determine if additional criminal charges are appropriate."
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The post also alarmed by saying, "It is incredibly important that if someone finds an unknown substance that they suspect could be fentanyl or other drugs, that they leave the item alone and call the police. Fentanyl is deadly in very small doses. Exposure to fentanyl can be fatal, especially if medical help (including Narcan) is not readily available. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has a Narcan vending machine in the Jail lobby. Narcan kits are absolutely free through this program. If you know of someone who may be exposed to opioids, please pick up a kit today."
Fentanyl death stats in US
US deaths attributed to drug overdoses topped 100,000 last year for the first time, the CDC reported on May 11, 2022. The CDC said there were an estimated 107,622 drug overdose deaths in 2021, a 15 percent increase over the previous record of 93,655 set in 2020. Drug overdose deaths rose 30 percent from 2019 to 2020. Deaths from fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, rose to 71,238 in 2021 from 57,834 in 2020. According to DailyMail, in 2021, US Department of Justice filed about 2,700 cases involving crimes related to the distribution of fentanyl and similar synthetic drugs.