Union County detention officer exposed to fentanyl while processing mail; 2 charged

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A Union County Sheriff’s Detention Officer was exposed to fentanyl while processing mail Tuesday morning, officials said.

Two officers were processing inmate mail when one realized a Christmas card addressed to an inmate looked like it was altered.

One of the sections of the card was glued down.

The officer used a letter opener to separate the two sections, and a white powdery substance fell into the officer’s hand.

The officer was not wearing gloves and handed the card to the other officer to decontaminate his hands.

The second officer accidentally inhaled some of the powder after it went airborne.

Jail medical staff got to the officer, who became dizzy and lightheaded.

The officer also got sick to their stomach and was taken to Atrium Health Union.

The powder tested positive for fentanyl. Suboxone strips were taped behind the altered section of the card. The name and return address on the envelope were fake, officials said.

>> Reading this story in our app? The “Follow the Lead” feature allows you to tap the blue tag indicated with a ‘+’ to subscribe to alerts on the very latest breaking news updates.

Jail staff found a second Christmas card with the same fictitious name and return address.

Sections of this card were also tampered with and Suboxone strips were hidden inside. The two cards were addressed to inmates in the same cell.

The card had fingerprints on it from Fabian Pagan, 35, of Monroe.

Pagan, a registered sex offender, lives at the same home as one of the inmates that one of the cards was addressed to.

Pagan was arrested Tuesday and faces charges, which include providing contraband to an inmate and possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance.

[WANT TO WATCH ON OUR STREAMING APPS? CLICK HERE]

On Wednesday, detectives charged Christy Michelle Pendry, 43, of Monroe, in connection with this case. Pendry faces three counts of providing contraband to an inmate.

The officer exposed to the fentanyl was treated and released from Atrium and is expected to fully recover.

Cox Media Group