Cop passes out after wind blows white powder into face during traffic stop, police say

An Indiana police officer accidentally overdosed on fentanyl and passed out during a traffic stop, the Southport Police Department said in a July 19 news release.

It happened after the officer, Lt. Tony Wilson, pulled over a car at a gas station and arrested the driver on a charge of driving without a license, the department told McClatchy News in an email.

“During a search of the vehicle, our officer found a folded one-dollar bill, which, upon further inspection, was discovered to contain fentanyl,” police said.

The vehicle’s doors were open and, as Wilson examined the white powder, police said a gust of wind blew the powder into his face and the air around him, causing him to accidentally inhale the substance.

It’s not clear how much of the fentanyl he ingested, but it was apparently too much. Wilson had overdosed, police said, and as he started to lose consciousness, he radioed for help.

As he waited for backup to arrive, Wilson remembered the dose of Narcan he kept in his pocket — but he couldn’t administer it in time.

“(Wilson) was going to use it to reverse the effects of the fentanyl, but he fell unconscious,” police said.

“At that moment, IFD Engine 26 arrived on the scene and transported him to the hospital, saving his life,” according to the department. “He is currently at home recovering.”

Police didn’t say if the driver will face any additional charges.

This story was originally published July 23, 2024 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Cop passes out after wind blows white powder into face during traffic stop, police say."