'Career Criminal' Spills Fentanyl On Officer In Methuen Police Station

METHUEN (CBS) - A Methuen police officer is recovering after being potentially exposed to the deadly drug fentanyl after a detainee threw white powder in a cell at the police station. It started Wednesday when police say 28-year-old Kyle Dennis was picked up for suspicious activity, allegedly gave police a false name, and they finally connected him to several outstanding warrants including drugs and firearms violations.

It was during a routine search the fentanyl was uncovered. "During a pat frisk a hypodermic needle fell out of his pants leg and onto the floor. Officers saw there was a great need for a more thorough search," said Methuen police Captain Gregory Gallant.

Dennis was brought into the cell area for a strip search and that's when officers saw the clear plastic bag and white powder taped between his legs in the groin area.

"Officers told the defendant not to touch the bag," said Essex assistant district attorney Michael Dulany. "He refused to comply and immediately grabbed in hand the powder, ripped open the bag, and it went everywhere."

Police say the powder covered officer Patrick Waldron including his arms, legs, shirt, bullet proof vest, boots and gun belt, equipment that police say will be replaced.

"Anytime you're dealing with something could be fentanyl it's a scary situation because when it becomes airborne it can be dangerous for a police officer to have interaction with," said Captain Gallant.

It was a particularly scary tense situation, but police say it's not the first time. They are more and more cautious with prisoners as police say often they are hiding some kind of contraband. "A lot of times we bring prisoners into the booking area and find we have to be much more thorough than we used to be, because they're going through lengths to hide evidence of drugs or illicit material," said Captain Gallant.

Officer Waldron pulled Dennis out of the cell and they were brought to the hospital for decontamination. Police say his quick action likely saved both of them from exposure.

Methuen Mayor James Jajuga said, "A career criminal knowingly put the lives of our officers in danger."

Captain Gallant says it points to another risk for officers dealing with an ongoing drug epidemic. "To know you're so close to something that could be toxic, and to have an incident like that occur is something he's going to be thinking about."

Dennis is being held until a dangerousness hearing on May 13.