SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — An officer was treated for possible fentanyl exposure after he began decontaminating a car, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Earle Farrell said.
Farrell says undercover officers were decontaminating a car that was seized in a drug bust Tuesday afternoon at Hickory Hill and Winchester.
They had all of their gear on and worked on the car for a couple of hours.
After going to lunch, one of the officers began feeling lightheaded – which is a symptom someone would feel if they were exposed to fentanyl. As a precaution, the officer received IV treatment around 1:30 p.m.
No Narcan was administered, but the officer was transported to Baptist Hospital.
Farrell says the officer could have also been dehydrated in his hazmat suit.
Police say this is just an example of what is now becoming a growing danger for law enforcement now that fentanyl is becoming more mainstream.
Farrell says another officer was exposed to fentanyl last week and had to be administered with Narcan.
This is an ongoing investigation.
We will keep you updated.