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Darke County Sheriff
Deputies treated for
exposure to powder at jail
On April 17, 2018 at approximately 1:00 PM Darke County, Sheriff’s
Deputies and Corrections Officers were in the process of booking a male
subject into the jail when they were exposed to an unknown white powder.
Greenville Police Department transported 37-year-old Stephen A. Garner
Jr. to the Darke County Jail. He was arrested at the request of
the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. After arriving at the Darke
County Jail, the search and intake process was taking place when
multiple plastic baggies containing a white powdery substance dropped
from the subject’s body. The Garner subject immediately attempted
to retrieve the items while corrections officers ordered him to drop
them. At some point Garner opened some of the bags exposing white
powder on the floor, himself and the officers. Deputies and
Corrections Officers were able to gain control of Garner and secure him
in a holding cell. A very short time later Deputies and officers
began to feel light headed and ill. Garner became unconscious and
unresponsive. The jail staff requested additional deputies to
respond and assist. Greenville Township Fire and Rescue responded
with multiple units to the Darke County Jail. Detectives,
Deputies from the road and off duty Corrections Officers responded to
assist. A total of four deputies and Garner were transported to
Wayne Healthcare. Some subjects were treated with Narcan during
this event.
The Darke County Jail was locked down and closed temporarily while the
unknown substance was collected and the area decontaminated. The
Darke County Jail was out of service for approximately 2 hours during
the investigation and decontamination.
No other inmates were at risk during the event and they were secured in
their respective wards. The deputies that were transported have
since been treated and released from the hospital. The Garner
subject has been turned over to the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.
Samples of the substance will be sent to the crime lab for processing
and identification. A criminal investigation into this incident
is underway. At the conclusion of the case, it will be forwarded
to the Darke County Prosecutor to review for possible criminal charges
against Garner.
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