Close Call for Wisconsin Deputy

A Wisconsin sheriff’s deputy had a brush with disaster when she was hit in the face with airborne powdered fentanyl and cocaine while booking a suspect. The deputy was sifting through money taken from Jose Fredy Rodriguez Acuna, 25, who was arrested on drug charges.

It happened when Acuna was being booked into the jail on March 31. Deputies were taking inventory of his belongings, and that’s when the deputy unfolded a bill containing a powdery substance. It became airborne, hitting her straight in the face, according to Columbia County Sheriff Roger Brandner.

Medical Emergency

The deputy suffered a medical event and needed immediate care. Luckily, other deputies were quick to act, administering Narcan to reverse the opioid overdose. She was rushed to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The substance tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. Acuna’s been charged with possession of cocaine and narcotic drugs. He’s being held on a $1,000 cash bond, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken him into federal custody.

Sheriff Brandner noted that people arrested for drug offenses often hide drugs and paraphernalia in their belongings during the intake process. ‘The danger doesn’t stop on the street, and our jail staff must be prepared for this danger,’ he said.