A woman faces charges after an incident in which a Cobourg police officer was exposed to fentanyl.
Police say the officer spotted a woman early Sunday night who was wanted for causing a disturbance and failing to attend court, among other charges.
During the arrest, the officer began exhibiting symptoms consistent with exposure to opioids and a second officer immediately administered naloxone.
The stricken officer was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been released and is expected to have a full recovery.
A 33-year-old Cobourg woman faces an additional charge of possession of fentanyl.
Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf says, “This incident is a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers our officers face daily. Thanks to the quick actions of our team, a potentially life-threatening situation was averted. We are grateful for the emergency service partners and the Northumberland Hills Hospital staff. This poison that is on our streets knows no bounds. We will continue to ensure EVERY person in possession of any amount of a controlled substance is charged
and put before the courts when able. Furthermore, our officers are working tirelessly to disrupt the flow of illicit
substances and hold dealers accountable for spreading this throughout our community. I challenge the court system
to hold offenders accountable at every stage of the process. Strict bail hearing processes, combined with community-
centric and stringent conditions, demonstrate this commitment to keeping our community safe. The safety of our
residents and frontline personnel continues to be our top priority.”
and put before the courts when able. Furthermore, our officers are working tirelessly to disrupt the flow of illicit
substances and hold dealers accountable for spreading this throughout our community. I challenge the court system
to hold offenders accountable at every stage of the process. Strict bail hearing processes, combined with community-
centric and stringent conditions, demonstrate this commitment to keeping our community safe. The safety of our
residents and frontline personnel continues to be our top priority.”
