January 7, 2022
INMATE ARRESTED AFTER SMUGGLING FENTANYL INTO JAIL CAUSING MULTIPLE INMATE OVERDOSES
OROVILLE - During the early morning hours of January 6, 2022, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) correctional deputies were alerted to three inmates within a medium-security housing unit at the Butte County Jail, who were exhibiting signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose. Jail medical staff and correctional staff immediately responded and administered Narcan® (naloxone) to the three inmates. Each inmate required multiple administrations of naloxone. All three inmates were subsequently transported to the hospital via ambulance. Two of the three inmates have since been treated and released back into custody at the jail. One remains hospitalized. Later in the day on January 6, 2022, correctional deputies were alerted to another inmate within the same housing unit who was also exhibiting signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose. Medical and jail staff again immediately responded and administered multiple doses of naloxone. That inmate was also transported to the hospital, where he was treated and released back into custody at the jail.
The housing unit was subsequently searched and approximately 14.8 grams of fentanyl was discovered. Included in that amount was approximately 14 grams that an inmate had attempted to conceal in his anal cavity, which the inmate voluntarily removed. The inmates within that housing unit were advised of the significant risks associated with the use of fentanyl.
Detectives from the Butte Interagency Narcotic Task Force (BINTF) were brought in to investigate.
The next day, on January 7, 2022, correctional deputies were alerted to an additional inmate within the same housing unit who was exhibiting signs and symptoms of an opiate overdose. Medical and jail staff again immediately responded and administered a single dose of naloxone. That inmate was medically cleared by jail medical staff.
The BINTF investigation into how the fentanyl entered the facility continues. However, to date, BINTF detectives have identified 35-year old Eric Robert Rehse as the source of the fentanyl resulting in the overdoses. On January 5, 2022, Rehse had been arrested on an outstanding felony warrant related to property crimes when he voluntarily came to the lobby of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives have cause to believe Rehse concealed the fentanyl inside his anal cavity prior to his arrival at the Sheriff’s office and subsequent arrest. Detectives believe Rehse retrieved the drugs after being visually strip searched and placed into the housing unit, then he distributed the drugs to other inmates, who intentionally ingested the drugs. Detectives re-arrested Rehse, who remained in custody, and forwarded a request for complaint to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office for the felony charges of bringing a controlled substance into the jail and sale/transportation/distribution of a controlled substance.
It has and continues to be the policy of the Butte County Jail that inmates who are housed be thoroughly searched prior to being initially admitted into the housing areas. Housing intake searches include a thorough visual search of the incoming inmate’s body. However, without probable cause, a court order and assistance from licensed medical professionals, correctional deputies are legally prohibited from physically searching the body cavities of inmates.
In addition to screening and searching incoming inmates, correctional staff continue to conduct regular and unannounced searches of inmate housing units, including using K-9’s that are trained to alert to the odor of narcotics. Additionally, naloxone is distributed and staged throughout the jail facility to allow for the rapid administration to inmates and staff in the event of an overdose or exposure emergency.
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