The Cumberland County Jail was unable to take in prisoners for about two hours Friday, while part of the jail was decontaminated of the drug fentanyl.

The drug was released into the air at the jail’s intake area while Brent Gross, 29, of Westbrook, was being processed following his arrest on charges of possession and trafficking of fentanyl.

While Gross was being searched, he refused to give up the drugs he had with him and refused to comply with staff. While Gross was being restrained and removed from the intake room, some of the drug fell to the ground and some of the powder went airborne, according to a news release from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

The powder was tested and found to be fentanyl. Intake officers were sent to Maine Medical Center for possible fentanyl exposure, treated, and later returned to work. The intake facility was closed between about 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. while officers cleaned and decontaminated the area. The rest of the jail was placed in temporary lockdown during that time.


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