UPDATE 08/10/21: This article has been updated following criticisms made by health experts towards San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore. Sheriff Gore acknowledged that he concluded the deputy overdosed, NOT a doctor. On Monday, the sheriff's office released the incident report.]
Body camera footage released by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department showed a deputy overdosing after coming into contact with fentanyl.
On July 3, Deputy David Faiivae from the San Marcos Sheriff's Station was processing drugs during an arrest when he came into contact with a white powder that tested positive for fentanyl, according to ABC 10. The exact contact remains unclear.
The video does not show what led the deputy to overdose, and some medical professionals dispute the levels of toxicity from passive fentanyl exposure.
Field Training Officer Corporal Scott Crane told Faiive not to get too close to the substance.
"I said, 'hey dude, too close," Corporal Crane recalled in the video. "You can't get that close to it."
A few seconds later, Faiivae fell to the ground, struggling to breathe. Corporal Crane swept in and began administering Naloxone, which is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Deputies say fentanyl is one of the greatest threats in San Diego County, as well as across the nation. The San Diego Sheriff's Department became the first law enforcement agency in the state to allow all deputies to carry Naloxone.
According to the health-reporting website STAT, fentanyl is exceedingly potent, but it is not volatile and if the drug is left undisturbed it will not harm anyone.
The CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommend that when emergency responders come into contact with illicit drugs, they should always wear gloves, put on respiratory protection if powdered drugs are around, avoid doing anything that can cause those drugs to be airborne, avoid touching anything else and wash hands with soap and afterward.
The sheriff’s office released the video as a public safety video, with interviews with those involved that day, as well as other officials.
You can watch the video below, but be warned, some of what you see is extremely graphic and viewer discretion is advised.
For those struggling with substance abuse issues, call the San Diego Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240 or visit up2sd.org/.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect additional views on passive fentanyl exposure.
KNX 1070 News has reached out to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for more information.