FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — (WESH/NBC) - Body camera video shows two law enforcement officers, who were later hospitalized, being exposed to drugs while trying to arrest a burglary suspect, who they describe as a known heroin user.
Body camera video recorded on Sunday shows the Flagler County K-9 Deputy Gibson Smith kneeling next to the suspect Saturday.
Smith's glove tore as he struggled with the man, who investigators say had taken heroin.
That brief contact was enough to sicken the deputy.
As the suspect convulsed and lost consciousness, Smith also fell ill.
The prompted the decision to use Narcan, a drug used to revive people who have overdosed on opioids.
A city police officer on the scene also felt sick. She and the deputy were taken to a hospital but expected to be OK.
"Heroin laced with fentanyl and these kinds of drugs can very quickly go into the system, just from touch," said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly.
Courtesy WESH via NBC News Channel
