Body-worn camera footage released by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office captures a harrowing moment on Mitchumtown Road, Bonneau, when Lt. Kristin Riddle collapsed after handling suspected fentanyl during a vehicle search. The footage, now central to a department-wide safety review, shows the veteran deputy gasping, “I need Narcan,” repeatedly before falling to the ground as a fellow officer rushed to her side.
“Where is it? In my car!” Riddle’s voice is heard as her colleague scrambled for the life-saving medication. Two doses of naloxone commonly known as Narcan were administered before Riddle regained responsiveness. “You’re good,” the deputy reassured her as she slowly recovered.
Deputies responded to an incident of an unresponsive female behind the wheel of an SUV at Mitchumtown Road. The suspect, known to the department from prior narcotics arrests, was removed from the vehicle as Lt. Riddle began to search.
She discovered a folded dollar bill containing about 0.01 grams of a brown powder, which later tested presumptively positive for fentanyl. A second search revealed approximately 2 grams of the same substance hidden in a clear plastic bag inside the suspect’s bra.
Riddle, who was not wearing gloves due to extreme summer heat, handled the folded bill moments before collapsing.
“This was the most serious incident we’ve faced of this kind,”
Sheriff Duane Lewis said.
“She was lucky her teammate acted so fast.”
Riddle was transported to a nearby hospital and released later that day. She is now recovering at home.
Although the video appears to show an abrupt fentanyl overdose, medical and toxicology experts caution against concluding that. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American College of Medical Toxicology both agree that accidental dermal exposure to fentanyl is exceedingly unlikely to lead to life-threatening opioid toxicity.
“True opioid overdoses via touch are virtually impossible,”
said Dr. Ryan Marino, a medical toxicologist quoted in a 2023 NPR report.
“Most of these cases are panic-induced or a vasovagal response, not poisoning.”
Sheriff Lewis confirmed Riddle’s lapse in glove protocol and said the department is taking corrective steps.
“The bodycam footage will be required viewing for all deputies,”
he said.
“We are doubling down on the importance of protective gear when handling suspected narcotics, no matter the weather.”
The suspect in the incident remains in custody and is expected to face additional drug-related charges.
Experts worry that incidents like this can fuel misconceptions about fentanyl exposure risks.
“When law enforcement believes casual contact can kill, it heightens fear and may stigmatize people who use drugs,”
said Dr. Jeanmarie Perrone, a University of Pennsylvania toxicologist, in a 2023 CDC-verified report.
The United States is gripped by fentanyl-fuelled opioid crisis. According to the CDC, 66,663 overdose deaths in 2023 involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
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While law enforcement agencies nationwide have increased training and Narcan distribution, experts say evidence-based communication is essential.
“Fear can lead to mistakes,”
Dr. Marino noted.
“But Narcan saves lives regardless of the cause of collapse.”
Lt. Riddle’s collapse underscores both the dangers officers face and the importance of separating myth from reality. Narcan’s swift use almost certainly saved her life, but medical professionals emphasize that future training must reflect accurate science.
As Sheriff Lewis clarified,
“We can’t afford to be incorrect on this. We owe it to our deputies and the public to get this right.”
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office plans to use the July 26 incident as a teaching moment not only about the importance of safety protocols but also about ensuring that fear of fentanyl does not eclipse the truth about how it is transmitted.
