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Last updated on Monday, March 7, 2016
(BLOOMINGTON) - Three Monroe County Jail inmates were hospitalized and another two were treated at the jail’s medical facility after suffering adverse reactions to synthetic marijuana or Spice.
Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain believes one of the affected inmates smuggled the drug into the jail after an appearance in court. Swain says that the inmate possibly concealed the substance in a body cavity, or swallowed a package of it and passed it through his digestive system.
About 10 p.m. Thursday, two inmates who appeared to be in "serious distress" and experiencing overdose-like symptoms were taken to the hospital. However toxicology tests did not yield results making police and health officials believe it was Spice - synthetic marijuana does not show up on toxicology screens.
One inmate is in a critical care unit at a hospital in Indianapolis. A second inmate was admitted Friday at IU Health Bloomington Hospital for observation and treatment.
A third inmate, who investigators suspect smuggled the drug into the jail, went to the hospital for treatment and was released back to jail.
Two other men received treatment at the jail's medical facility. Both admitted to taking a couple of puffs of the drug.
After the incident police conducted a full search of the jail Thursday night and early Friday morning. They are also reviewing video footage.
The case remains under investigation and possible criminal charges are pending.
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