A distressing video is currently surfacing online this week of a Florida cop suffering an overdose of fentanyl following a traffic stop that went left.
The cop, who has since been identified as Officer Courtney Bannick, had to be given several doses of Narcan, which is the drug administered to reverse the potentially deadly effects of opioids.
“She was completely lifeless. She looks deceased in these videos,” Tavares Police Detective Courtney Sullivan expressed to Fox 35 after reviewing bodycam footage of Tavares Police Department officer Courtney Bannick, who pulled a car over Tuesday before suffering a potential overdose.
DRAMATIC VIDEO: Florida cop treated for overdose after possible fentanyl exposure, police say https://t.co/rpcuRQQOUE pic.twitter.com/d80fO7Ko25
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) December 14, 2022
Many are wondering something like this even happened. According to the news outlet, Bannick found some drugs in the passenger seat during the stop. “She just quickly opened it, saw that it was narcotics and closed it quickly,” Sullivan said. She also added that the officer was wearing gloves at the time. “The next thing you know you could hear in the radio traffic that she [Bannick] sounded like she was choking,” Sullivan said.
The officers decided to test the substance once they got back to the department, trying to avoid exposure because it was windy. However, Sullivan said officers found Bannick in and out of consciousness. In the video you can see the officers getting Bannick out of the car and running to get the emergency medication Narcan.
“It’s a small window to get to the hospital and to get the care that you need,” Sullivan said. The body camera footage shows officer Bannick reviving, even talking, but then passing out again.
“Officer Bannick wants others to know that these drugs are dangerous,” Sullivan said. “They’re dangerous for not only yourself but others around you.”
Officer Bannick was administered a third Narcan and survived the exposure. Tavares police said Bannick is at home recovering. The officer said she believes the wind contributed to her overdose. Police also said the person involved in the traffic stop will face felony charges as they continue their investigation.