A police officer was exposed to fentanyl while searching a vehicle in Old Saybrook on Tuesday and has been released after being taken to the hospital. Police said they have arrested one person on drug charges after the incident.
Police said they were called to the back of a market on Main Street to investigate a suspicious person around 10 a.m. and a man told the officer that he had just dropped off an employee and was looking to speak with the person again, according to police.
He had drug paraphernalia on his person and was detained, according to police. Then a police dog alerted the officer that there might be drugs present and the patrolman instantaneously became ill while searching the car, according to police.
He was immediately treated at the scene and taken to Middlesex Health-Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook. Police said the officer was released after medical treatment.
Police arrested Stephen Allen Johnson, 36, of Old Saybrook, who was charged with several narcotics violations, police said.
Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug that can lead to death, police said.
“We’re hearing stories upon stories across the state and across our great nation of people being exposed and dying from exposure to fentanyl,” Spera said.
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No additional information was immediately available.
