City inmate allegedly overdoses on fentanyl
Administered five does of Narcan
A Sallisaw woman is charged with a felony count of bringing contraband into jail, specifically fentanyl, after she allegedly overdosed on the substance while incarcerated in the Sallisaw City Jail. Crystal R. Whisnant, 31, was charged March 21 in Sequoyah County District Court and received a $5,000 bond. Court records show she was scheduled for a March 23 jury trial sounding docket but no further court dates have been scheduled as of press time.
A Sallisaw woman is charged with a felony count of bringing contraband into jail, specifically fentanyl, after she allegedly overdosed on the substance while incarcerated in the Sallisaw City Jail. Crystal R. Whisnant, 31, was charged March 21 in Sequoyah County District Court and received a $5,000 bond. Court records show she was scheduled for a March 23 jury trial sounding docket but no further court dates have been scheduled as of press time.
On March 14, Sallisaw Police Lt. Mark Rutherford reported he was at the police department for city court when he heard jail administrator Travis Buchanan say they called EMS for a female who was having problems breathing. Buchanan said a jailer had given a sternum rub to the female (Whisnant) who was the only one reportedly in the cell. Whisnant was said to have been breathing very deeply every little bit but was not responsive and her lips were blue, according to the probable cause affidavit. Rutherford said he believed Whisnant had allegedly overdosed on an opioid based narcotic and needed to be administered Narcan. Rutherford said he gave Whisnant her first dose at 12:22 p.m. and a second dose at 12:25 p.m. He reported she had no response other than breathing a little more frequently and loudly.
An employee came in and said they believed there may be fentanyl inside the woman’s cell. Authorities reported finding a plastic container with some white crystalline or powder inside it under the mattress that Whisnant was reporting laying on. The substance was placed inside a glove so that no one could touch it.
As the officers continued care on Whisnant, she was still reportedly unresponsive so she was given a third dose of Narcan at 12:28 p.m. She reportedly had some reaction but was not completely responsive, according to the affidavit.
After no improvement, Whisnant was administered a fourth dose. Authorities were then able to get her up with assistance but she could not stand on her own or walk. Rutherford reported they were able to get Whisnant from the cell to the hallway where she asked for help before appearing to go out again. Rutherford told her they were then going to give her a fifth dose of Narcan.
Rutherford reported Whisnant was sweating profusely and her clothing was soaked, and she continued asking for help. An officer told her to lay on her left side so she could breathe easier. EMS arrived and transported Whisnant to NHS Sequoyah.
After leaving the hospital, she was transported to the Sequoyah County Detention Center because of the contraband substance that was located. The substance was sent to the state crime lab for further analysis.
District Attorney Jack Thorp said the crime is punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for one to five years, or a fine of $100 to $1,000, or both fine and imprisonment.
