14 people, including first responders, were exposed to an unknown narcotic in a Largo apartment Thursday evening.
At approximately 6:10 p.m., Officers with the Largo Police Department responded to a welfare check at an apartment complex in the area of Ulmerton Road and 66th Street North.
in a press conference Thursday evening Largo Police Chief Mike Loux said that a woman called 911 to report that her boyfriend was acting irrationally. During the call she told police that he was pacing, screaming, smoking marijuana, and “talking gibberish.”
At around 6:17 p.m., three officers arrived at the apartment and knocked on the door. When the girlfriend opened the door, the police chief said that the officers could see a man, identified as 30-year-old Richard Charles, completely nude, standing behind her.
Loux said that upon the door opening, a nude Charles aggressively approached the door with a clenched fist, talking irrationally.
A struggle ensued wherein officers attempted to put Charles into custody, and additional backup was called.
Chief Loux reported that after Charles was placed into custody, one of the officers felt the effects of a narcotic and passed out prompting other officers to use narcan to recuscitate him.
When medics arrived to assist the officer and Charles, one of them also began to feel the effects of an unknown narcotic.
Additionally, two other officers reported feeling similar effects.
After those officers and the medic were transported to a nearby hospital Loux said they began decontaminating the rest of those involved.
According to Loux, Charles was transported to a nearby hospital during which he was accompanied by two other officers.
However, when they arrived at the hospital those other officers, along with the two medics driving the ambulance, also reported feeling the effects of the narcotic. All were treated immediately.
At this time, the Largo Police Department, who were also at the scene to assist, called out their hazmat team to decontaminate the other officers and all equipment present at the scene.
The hazmat team did an air quality control test on the apartment and found the air inside the unit to be clear.
Loux said that a clandestine laboratory scene with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, which also assisted, walked through the apartment to attempt to locate the unknown narcotic causing the effects.
The police chief stated that there was no concern for any of the neighbors, and no one was evacuated during the incident.
In total 14 people were exposed and six, including the suspect, were taken to area hospitals and are expected to make an “easy recovery”, Loux said.
The police chief also noted that the girlfriend did not experience any symptoms.
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Source: Wfla
