Minnesota Prison Staff Possibly Exposed To Synthetic Drugs

A Minnesota prison could be on lockdown through Saturday after staff became ill from what was described by the Minnesota Department of Corrections as an 'unknown substance'. A total of 9 staff were transported from the Stillwater prison for evaluation.

Minnesota's largest prison, MCF - Stillwater, could be on lockdown through Saturday after an unknown substance inside the prison resulted in 9 staff members being transported to a local hospital for 'medical evaluation'. A press release from the Minnesota Department of Corrections states:

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Thursday, September 19, at 7:44 a.m., one staff person at MCF-Stillwater responded to a report of an incarcerated man smoking an unknown substance in his cell. The staff member experienced an adverse reaction that included lightheadedness, nausea, and an increased heart rate. He was taken by ambulance to Lakeview Hospital. Shortly thereafter, three staff members reported experiencing similar reactions and were taken to the hospital. Later, three other staff who had responded to the incident began feeling ill, and two were taken to the hospital. Separately, but in the same housing unit, an incarcerated man threw a container with an unknown substance from his cell that landed near staff. Three staff experienced illness and were also transported to the hospital.

“These synthetic substances are particularly dangerous because the chemical properties that comprise them are unknown and uncontrolled,” said Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell. “We are prioritizing our investigative efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible for conspiring to introduce these substances into the secure correctional environment. For the safety of our staff, we are reviewing and updating our emergency response protocols to suspected drug use incidents,” Commissioner Schnell added.

An investigation is ongoing into what the unknown substances were.

MCF - Stillwater is the state's largest prison for men.