Seven Joplin jail inmates hospitalized after medical emergency; another inmate died Monday
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Seven inmates at the Joplin City Jail were taken to area hospitals Tuesday after experiencing symptoms consistent with possible drug overdoses.
City officials say this comes just one day after another inmate died following a separate medical emergency at the facility.
The Joplin Police Department confirmed that all seven were in stable condition after receiving Narcan.
The emergency began around 12:37 p.m. Tuesday when jail workers found two inmates experiencing symptoms of a possible overdose inside the male dormitory.
Jail staff immediately called for ambulances and administered Narcan to the inmates. As employees responded to the initial emergency, additional inmates began experiencing similar symptoms.
Police said some of the inmates became unresponsive before receiving Narcan.
All seven inmates were transported to area hospitals in separate ambulances with injuries or symptoms considered non-life-threatening.
Investigators have not determined what caused the medical emergencies, although police say controlled substances are one possible factor.
Other inmates were evacuated from the facility are being closely monitored for additional medical problems.
Separate inmate death under investigation
The incident comes just one day after 61-year-old Christopher Brodie, of Front Royal, Virginia, died following a medical emergency while being held at the Joplin City Jail.
Jail staff reported Brodie's medical emergency at 9:22 a.m. Monday.
He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
The Jasper County coroner's office has scheduled an autopsy Wednesday to help determine the cause of death.
Police say the two incidents are believed to be unrelated, although both remain under investigation.
