A police officer was bitten and exposed to fentanyl while recently trying to stop a woman from ingesting a large quantity of fentanyl in Brantford, Ontario.
Last week, Brantford Police said that shortly after 3 p.m. on Dec. 3, officers were dispatched to Kiwanis Way and Glenwood Drive after a report of a woman fleeing the scene of a one-vehicle crash.
The caller told police the woman was in possession of a handgun while walking toward a shopping center on Colborne Street.
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As officers began searching for the woman, police said two schools in the area were placed on lockdown.
Officers quickly caught up with her at a fast food restaurant near the intersection of Stanley and Darling streets, according to a news release.
The woman was arrested at the restaurant and was in possession of a BB gun, police said.
On Monday, police provided more information about the arrest, saying that when officers caught up with the suspect, she was seen putting a large amount of fentanyl in her mouth.
One of the officers was able to remove it from his mouth, which police say could have saved his life.
While removing the drugs from his mouth, police allege the officer was bitten, then exposed to fentanyl and began showing signs of fentanyl exposure.
He was transported to an area hospital for treatment and is said to be recovering from physical injuries sustained as a result of the incident.
A 39-year-old Brantford woman faces several charges, including assaulting a peace officer causing bodily harm, possession of a firearm or weapon and failure to comply with a probation order.
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