By Ricardo Roura
30 Oct 2024, 10:57 PM EDT
Seven deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Central Men’s Jail in Chinatown had to be hospitalized after being exposed to an unknown substance this Tuesday afternoon, the authorities confirmed.
The incident involving the agents occurred around 2:55 pm this Tuesday, just a few hours after seven inmates also had to be transferred to medical centers due to symptoms of poisoning by an unidentified substance.
Paramedics of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) They went twice in less than eight hours to the facilities located at 441 Bauchet Street.
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LAFD Medical Services They went earlier to the same prison facility after reports that seven men, all believed to be inmates, may have inhaled or been exposed to a substance not yet formally identified, inside the prison under LASD control.
In a press release issued Tuesday night, LASD officials referred to the situation as a suspected overdose incident.
One of the patients was in critical condition.while the other six were reported in serious condition, the Fire Department said in an update.
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An LAFD hazardous materials team responded to the scene to evaluate the facilities at the Los Angeles jail.but did not encounter additional patients at that time and it was determined that there was no increasing danger.
Overdose incident in previous hours
The seven officers were reported to be checking inmate dormitories to make sure they were safe to reoccupy. when they began experiencing symptoms related to the alleged overdose incident which happened in the morning.
At the scene it was observed a large presence of LAFD fire and paramedic teamsin addition to bailiffs outside the prison.
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As a precautionary measure, The seven officers were taken to the hospital and all were conscious, authorities said.
“The situation highlights the complex challenges our staff face within our prisonsparticularly as we manage a more complicated population that includes people with acute medical conditions, serious mental health problems and substance abuse problems,” LASD said in a statement.
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The authorities added that They worked to prevent the entry of illicit substances into prison facilities and expressed their optimism that the near future will feature the use of updated technological solutions.
In early October, an overdose incident occurred at the Men’s Central Jail which left one inmate dead and six prisoners hospitalized.
Keep reading:
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