Union County Detention Officer Exposed To Fentanyl While Processing Mail

MONROE, N.C. — Jail officials say while two Union County Sheriff’s Detention Officers were processing inmate mail on Tuesday, December 29th, one officer was exposed to Fentanyl when they accidentally inhaled a powdery substance inside a Christmas card addressed to an inmate.

Jail Medical Staff provided immediate medical attention to the officer who was exposed after the officer became dizzy and lightheaded, and the officer was taken to Atrium Union for further observation, according to a news release.

Detectives say one officer noticed the Christmas card had been altered, as one of the sections of the card had been glued down, and after using a letter opener to separate the two sections, a white powdery substance fell into the officer’s ungloved hands.

The officer then handed the card over to a second officer while he went to decontaminate his hands, and some of the powdery substance went airborne resulting in the second officer inhaling some of it, according to a news release.

Detectives say in addition to the powdery substance inside the card testing positive for Fentanyl, Suboxone strips were found taped behind the altered section of the card.

Both the name and the return address on the envelope were determined to be fake, investigators say.

Jail staff say they found a second Christmas card with the same fake name and return address with Suboxone strips concealed inside, and both cards were addressed to inmates sharing the same cell.

Investigators say 35-year-old Fabian Pagan of Monroe was charged in the incident after his fingerprints were found inside the altered sections of the card.

Police say Pagan is a registered sex offender who lives at the same residence as one of the inmates the Christmas card was addressed too, and he was arrested on Tuesday evening for providing contraband to an inmate and possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance.

Detectives say 43-year-old Christy Pendry of Monroe was also charged in connection with this case and faces three counts of providing contraband to an inmate.

The Detention Officer exposed to the Fentanyl has been released from the hospital and is expected to fully recover, according to a news release.

Police say the investigation remains active, and ask anyone with more information to call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 704-283-3789 or Union County Crimestoppers at 704-283-5600.