Normal operations at the Mohave County Adult Detention Center in Kingman are suspended as the Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into drug overdoses involving five inmates. Each of the male inmates required treatment at Kingman Regional Medical Center after they suffered medical emergencies about 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.
One inmate was admitted to the hospital, but all five have been returned to the jail.
Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said authorities were unable to specifically identify the drug involved, but opioids are suspected.
“During the course of the investigation, information was received that more of the substance may be in the housing unit,” a news release stated. “In an effort to proceed cautiously for safety and security reasons, as well as to maintain the integrity of the criminal investigation, Sheriff Doug Schuster has suspended all normal operations, including court functions.”
Some Thursday hearings were canceled and are to be rescheduled because of some restrictions involving inmate transport between the jail and the courthouse. Mortensen said inmates housed where the overdoses occurred have been relocated after being searched, showered and provided new jail clothing.
“Our number one objective in this investigation is the safety of our jail staff and inmates. We are assuming that we are dealing with a synthetic type of opioid that presents a serious health issue, as some of these new drugs are thousands of times more potent than morphine,” Sheriff Schuster said. “We are methodically continuing our investigation and are working collaboratively with our local public safety partners and public health officials. We want the public to know that there is no medical emergency involving any staff or inmates. We are simply being overly cautious and methodical to prevent that.”
