At least four people were sent to the hospital early Thursday morning following possible exposure to fentanyl brought in by a suspect at the Lorain City Jail.
According to a police report, the ordeal began when officers initiated a traffic stop near Tower Blvd. around 11:05 p.m. Monday for a car with tinted windows. Officers said there was a "strong odor" of marijuana in the car, and the driver—21-year-old Jarvis Burns—was arrested for driving under a suspended license.
Once at the jail, Burns was taken to a holding cell, where three officers began a strip search. During this search, a "white object" was apparently discovered inside Burns' rectum. Burns refused to hand it over, and a struggle ensued that eventually saw Burns bite down on the bag containing the substance (later revealed to be crack cocaine) and disperse it all over the cell and the officers.
The physical confrontation continued, with Burns (by this time "grunting loudly) trying to put another large bag containing a "purple or gray" substance in his mouth. The bag had already partially been torn open, and the substance (which one officer suspected was heroin or fentanyl) began to leak all over the cell. Burns allegedly began pushing officers against the wall, and as one went to tase him, he quickly took both bags and threw them down a storm drain before finally being handcuffed.
Authorities say the white substance threw down the drain became saturated after landing in water, while the purple/gray power was "completely lost." Tests were later done on the substances still in the cell, and while the purple/gray powder did not officially test positive for heroin or fentanyl, officials stress that several types of fentanyl cannot be detected by the department's current equipment.
Due to possible exposure, Burns and the three officers were all taken to Mercy Medical Center, where they were treated and released. In addition, the jail had to be evacuated, with all prisoners being transported to the Lorain County Jail. The holding cell had to be decontaminated by the Lorain Fire Department following the collection of evidence.
Burns faces multiple charges, including possession of drugs, assaulting a police officer, and tampering with evidence.