Officers Exposed to Fentanyl, Two Arrested

BLYTEVILLE, Ark. – Two people have been arrested after a traffic stop where officers were reportedly exposed to fentanyl, a press release from Blytheville Police Department said on Wednesday.

On May 17, 2024, officers with the Blytheville Police Department, while patrolling the area of E Moultrie, initiated a traffic stop on a white GMC Yukon that had pulled out in front of the officer. Officers made contact with Travis Leachman (35, Blytheville) and Brittany Deason (27, Blytheville). Officers observed a strong odor of Marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officers removed both from the vehicle. Officers located on Leachman’s person a clear container with small baggies inside with a crystal like substance, believed to be Methamphetamine, and a small clear bag with suspected marijuana was located inside Leachman’s left sock. Officers also located, inside the vehicle, a clear bag containing suspected marijuana and four small blue pills believed to be Fentanyl. Officers also discovered in the vehicle 5 yellow circle pills, identified as being Clonazepam, and another clear baggie with approximately 50 blue pills, also believed to be Fentanyl. Both subjects were taken into custody at that time and charged with the drugs.

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While officers were en route to the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office with Leachman and Deason, the officer radioed dispatch advising he was not feeling well and was pulling over. Other officers responded to the area of the officer and discovered the officer on the ground unconscious and suffering from the effects of the Fentanyl. The officer was transported by those responding officers to Great River Medical Center for treatment to the exposure. While at Great River Medical Center, the officers who had initially assisted in the aide of the downed officer began to show signs of exposure and lost consciousness. Officers who had assisted with providing aide to those who had direct contact with the downed officer began to show signs of an over dose. Approximately an hour later, a nurse who had been treating the initial officer also showed signs of over dose of Fentanyl and had to be treated, bringing the total of those treated of potential Fentanyl exposure to five.

Leachman and Deason were transported to the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office by another Officer that was on shift. They both appeared in court on May 20, 2024 for arraignment. Bond was set for each at $1,000,000 per Judge Shannon Langston.

Fentanyl continues to ravage communities across the nation, and the recent events showed the city of Blytheville was not immune to this deadly drug. Fentanyl is 50-100 times more potent than Heroin, Oxycodone, or Morphine. Signs of a possible overdose include (but not limited to): trouble walking or talking, bluish or cold/clammy skin, seizures, slow heartbeat, and shallow breathing. If you, or someone you know, is exposed to Fentanyl you are urged call 911 and to seek immediate medical attention.

adapted press release