7 inmates taken to the hospital after fentanyl overdose at Snohomish County Jail; 1 man charged

EVERETT, Wash. - Seven people were taken to the hospital following a fentanyl overdose at the Snohomish County Jail on Wednesday night, according to investigators. 

Officials at the jail called out a medical emergency around 7:35 p.m. when a deputy observed an inmate displaying symptoms of an opiate overdose. 

When medics were treating the first inmate, a second one started exhibiting symptoms. Others soon began showing symptoms of an opiate overdose.  

They were given Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses the effects of a drug overdose. 

There were no deaths, but seven people were hospitalized. 

Investigators believe that the fentanyl exposure was limited to one area of the jail. 

A total of 23 fire and EMS units responded due to the number of patients. 

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office will be investigating the incident. The Drug Task Force questioned a suspect. A 37-year-old inmate will have two additional charges referred against him for possession of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility. This inmate was booked into jail on May 16 for third-degree theft stemming from an incident in Arlington. 

Additional charges may be referred against the inmate. He was not among the seven inmates taken to the hospital for exposure. 

As of Thursday, five inmates were released from the hospital and returned to jail.