VALHALLA, New York (CBSNewYork/AP) – Two inmates have been charged after six inmates suffered apparent drug overdoses at the Westchester County jail.
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Two inmates reportedly have been taken to the hospital in crucial situation.
The Daily Voice reports that the public information officer for the Westchester County Police Department, Kieran O’Leary, confirmed that the inmates were in stable condition by Sunday night.
The four were charged with promoting prison contraband, which is a misdemeanor.
All of the stricken prisoners displayed symptoms “of a possible drug overdose”, O’Leary said. Forty-two inmates faced similar charges previous year, he said, and 38 in 2013. They say James Graziano, being held on a parole violation, had a plastic bottle that was altered into a pipe.
Calls to Legal Aid were not returned.
Police and jail officials are investigating how the drug got into the jail.
The jail has three sections, the original facility, a newer wing and a women’s side, he said.
All visitors to the jail are searched, and all prisoners are strip-searched before and after all visits.
While it is unclear what substance the inmates ingested, Mr. Pruyne said synthetic marijuana hasn’t been a problem in the jail.
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At 2:51 p.m. on Sunday, a corrections officer at the jail noticed an inmate shaking and displaying signs of “medical distress”, Mr. O’Leary said.
