Sheriff: Inmate brought in fentanyl that led to seven overdoses at Snohomish County Jail

EVERETT, Wash. — Seven inmates from the Snohomish County Jail were taken to the hospital Wednesday night after possible fentanyl overdoses.

Around 7:30 p.m., a corrections deputy noticed some odd behaviors from an inmate that he believed were symptoms of a fentanyl overdose. The inmate was leaning back and forth and falling against a wall.

He called for medical staff who then found two other inmates showing the same symptoms.

Everett Fire said 23 fire and EMS units responded, including units from neighboring agencies.

In all, seven inmates received Narcan - some several times - and were hospitalized. All have since returned to the jail.

The sheriff’s office said fentanyl was discovered inside an inmate’s cell.

“The quick action from the corrections deputies to observe one inmate displaying off behavior, followed by a second and third, certainly saved the lives of these seven inmates tonight,” said Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Courtney O’Keefe.

O’Keefe said all Snohomish County corrections deputies just started carrying Narcan on duty this year.

According to Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortnoy, he believes an inmate brought the fentanyl powder into the jail. He was not one of the seven inmates hospitalized.

Two charges were referred to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office for possession of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility. The inmate is a 37-year-old Arlington man who was booked into jail on Tuesday for third-degree theft warrants stemming from Arlington Police investigations.

Fortnoy also said he does not believe there is any more fentanyl at the jail.

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