Some vehicles so full of dirty needles police cannot search them

Nearly every day Bothell police find cars or vans parked in hotel and grocery store lots, and most of the time those cars contain people who have passed out.

After they revive the passengers, the police have to start sifting through belongings, which can involve reaching into bags and jackets, having no idea what they’ll touch.

On Thursday, we rode along with officers from the Bothell Police Department to see firsthand how their safety is jeopardized every day.

Within minutes of getting in the patrol car with Sgt. John Brown, we were heading to a heroin call. It was noon on a Thursday, and we were surprised, but Brown said we shouldn’t be.

“I had one guy in a back seat who passed out and was literally laying on top of the needle,” he told us.

“Recently I did CPR on a girl," Brown said, referencing a separate incident.

Then he said, about a third incident, “I was going through the car and there must have been 200 needles in this car."

And finally, Brown said, “When I opened the door and started to lean down, it was literally within inches of my face,” referring to yet another vehicle search during which he was nearly pricked with a needle.

These countless incidents are all extremely dangerous to police officers.

“I believe we’ve had four to six officers who have had needle exposures and actually been pricked,” said Bothell police Sgt. Ken Seuberlich.

Bothell police say it’s so risky that there are now some vehicles they just can’t search.

“Right. There comes a point when we aren’t going to go into the car or send a dog into the car. It’s just too dangerous,” Seuberlich said.

On the call we rode to, the officers were able to go into the car because its occupant told them exactly what was inside.
Brown says usually addicts are not this forthcoming.

“They’ll tell you, 'Oh no, there’s no needles in the car,' and you’ll be looking right at a needle,” he told us.

Ultimately, it's up to the officers to determine if they feel safe picking up a needle.
They want to do their jobs but not become the victims of someone else's addiction.

“It’s definitely concerning because as a first responder your concern is your safety when it comes to being pricked, and that of your family,” said Seuberlich.

Cox Media Group