KAMLOOPS — A spokesman for the union representing sheriffs at the Kamloops courthouse says he expects a full investigation into a hazardous materials scare at the courthouse yesterday.
Dean Purdy of BCGEU says four sheriffs got into a scuffle with an inmate during a search.
Purdy says the inmate was concealing drugs, and in the course of the scuffle, “They were concealed somewhere, and then during the scuffle he may have tried to take them and throw them or something. They went into the air, and some of the sheriffs were exposed, we just don’t know at this point to what extent.”
The substance hasn’t yet been identified.
“Obviously the concern, and the first thing that comes to mind, is fentanyl or carfentanil because of the high potency of those drugs,” said Purdy. “It’s a big concern for us, and something that hopefully during the investigation, we’ll come up with some solutions.”
Purdy notes one of the sheriffs also got bodily fluids in his mouth and eyes.
“One of the deputy sheriffs was exposed to some bodily fluids in the mouth, and the eye, which is very concerning for us.”
The sheriffs were taken to Royal Inland Hospital for treatment, but Purdy says none of them were hospitalized overnight.
He says it’s and example of the lengths prisoners will go to in order to bring drugs into the province’s correctional centres.
“It just goes to show how times are changing with the high-potency drugs that are trying to get into our correctional centres, and inmate will go to any means possible to do that.”
Kamloops Fire Rescue, RCMP, and BC Ambulance have not returned a request for comment at time of publishing.
