UPDATE: Reeshawn Arnold, 32, has been identified as the suspect in this incident, according to a Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson.
As a result, Arnold was booked on charges of criminal negligence (seven counts), possession of schedule II controlled dangerous substances, introduction of contraband into a penal institution, resisting an officer and obstruction of justice.
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Update: Late Thursday, six sheriff's deputies exposed to fentanyl during a booking process were reported to be in stable condition. The deputies were affected when the substance was thrown on them by an offender.
Cleaning crews from an industrial cleaning company were on-site at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center to ensure the facility's safety.
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed that the offender is in custody.
Here's our previous report:
Six Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Correctional Deputies are receiving medical treatment and monitoring after being exposed to the deadly drug fentanyl during an offender’s booking process.
Exposure to the lethal illegal narcotic happened Thursday afternoon inside the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center’s intake and booking area. While a person was being processed for an arrest by an outside agency, a white, powdery substance, later positively identified as fentanyl, was thrown at several deputies in the vicinity.
There are multiple first responders on the scene, and roads around the jail in Downtown Lafayette are blocked off. The Lafayette Parish Correctional Center is not accepting bookings at this time, until the area is safe. Expert cleaning crews are on the way. We'll update this story as soon as we can.
Here's some video from the scene, around 3:45 p.m. on Thursday:
“This is a prime example of the myriad of serious dangers our corrections deputies face on a daily basis,“ said Sheriff Mark Garber, “It’s also a testament to their commitment to protect and serve our community at all costs.”
All six deputies have been transported to local medical facilities for evaluation and, if necessary, treatment for exposure to fentanyl.
No further information is available at this time, a release states.
