Sheriff’s office investigates after 4 inmates overdose at Kansas jail
By KAKE News
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EUREKA, Kansas (KAKE) — Authorities are investigating after four inmates, two of whom were found unresponsive, overdosed at a southeast Kansas jail last week.
The incident happened shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Greenwood County Jail in Eureka. Sheriff Health Samuels said the jail experienced “a serious medical emergency directly caused by the intentional actions of four inmates” who overdosed on an unknown white powder.
“Their deliberate ingestion of the substance resulted in multiple opioid overdoses and created a hazardous situation for jail staff, other inmates, and first responders,” he said.
Initially, two inmates were found unresponsive. But within minutes, a total of four inmates were in critical condition.
Due to the sudden onset and severity of symptoms, Sheriff Samuels said one concern was a possible air-quality issue inside the jail. The jail and courthouse were evacuated.
“Deputies and medical personnel immediately performed life‑saving measures. As treatment progressed, responders identified signs consistent with opioid involvement.”
First responders administered Narcan to the four inmates, and their conditions were stabilized. The scene was declared stable about two hours after the call for EMS.
Samuels said, “The inmates’ intentional introduction of the substance forced staff and first responders to enter a potentially contaminated environment, placing them at unnecessary risk.”
The sheriff’s office is investigating how the drug was brought into the jail. The sheriff said criminal charges are expected.
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