PINE BLUFF, Ark. — On Monday evening, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced that five deputies were exposed to an "unknown substance" while working at the W.C. Dub Brassell Adult Detention Center.
What is usually a regular protocol to check on a detainee who's requesting medical assistance quickly turned into Corporal Emanuel Hayes' worst nightmare.
"I'm just grateful just to be here, you know another day. I didn't get much sleep last night because I'm just scared and I'm just trying to process the whole day but I'm thankful to be here," Corporal Hayes explained.
To him, the word grateful doesn't even begin to describe the emotions that he has been feeling when just 24 hours ago his life completely changed.
"It was emotional because you're just laying in the hospital bed thinking, well, you know what, this could have been worse but all I could think about is my daughters and my co-workers," he said.
According to Major John Bean at the sheriff's office, his deputies were just following protocol. Because of this incident, all five deputies were sent to Jefferson Regional to be treated for their symptoms and have since been released.
"We had two of our deputies that went unconscious and another deputy that started having some chest pain, and still another deputy that had a headache and had some a rash starting to form on their face," he said.
He also explained that the detainee was treated as well and that their department is still unsure of what caused it.
"It was said that they were smoking some paper. and we know in the past that we've had some incidents where paper has been soaked in liquid K2 or, acetone, butane, some other just chemicals, and they will smoke it in order to get intoxicated or to get that high," Major Bean described.
He said that they have seen more incidents like this occurring in the jails because detainees are getting more creative when it comes to finding ways to get contraband.
"They have plenty of time to think about how they are able to get it in. Cell phones, using cell phones and communicating sometimes, and sometimes it's our own deputies," Major Bean said.
Despite how the situation started, Major Bean is just thankful that the outcome is all of his deputies are still alive.
"It's a family and we take care of each other that's first and foremost in this situation, the most important thing is that they're okay," Major Bean said.
This is still an ongoing investigation and we will keep everyone updated as soon as we have more information.