Six inmates at an upstate New York prison have been taken to hospital following multiple drugs overdoses, reports suggest.
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County police spokesman Kieran O’Leary says the number of prisoners sickened has risen to 13 since July 12.
The prisoners who have been arrested are charged with promoting contraband.
Officials said the jail was locked down at that time, with County Executive Rob Astorino calling for a sweep of the jail, including drug-sniffing dogs from the county police department, Yonkers Police Department and Harrison Police Department.
Messrs. odd and Graziano were among the six Westchester County Jail inmates hospitalized on Sunday after ingesting an unknown substance. They said James Graziano, being held on a parole violation, had a plastic bottle that was altered into a pipe.
O’Leary said they all showed signs “of a possible drug overdose”. Authorities said Deron unusual, who was in jail on an assault charge, had the remains of a hand-rolled cigarette.
Police are now investigating the drug that resulted in the inmates’ hospitalization and how it got into the jail.
The jail has three sections, the original facility, a newer wing and a women’s side, he said.
The jail’s medical director was also brought in to check up on inmates.
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As visitors were escorted out of the jail, which houses 1,600 inmates, one was reportedly told the prisoners “smoked something and passed out”.
