CHESTER, Ill. -- State officers have performed searches in a southeast Illinois prison in the last several days as part of an ongoing investigation, resulting in finding various types of drugs, according to state officials.
In a separate incident on Monday, September 9, state officials also reported a total of six Menard Correctional Center staff members were sent to area hospitals, either for precautionary reasons or for feeling ill, after staff members were opening mail. This coming after a search on Sunday in which three were sent to a hospital after feeling ill.
News 3 requested information with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) in relation to ongoing exposures of substances in the Menard Correctional Center out of Chester, Illinois.
A public information officer with IDOC responded to News 3's request, detailing ongoing searches by the TACT team at the state prison.
Here is a breakdown of the searches and additional incident by the IDOC public information officer...
Friday, 9/6
On Friday, 9/6, the TACT Team began their previously scheduled searches as part of the ongoing investigation at Menard. During the searches, the team discovered a piece of paper, which yielded a preliminary positive result for synthetic cannabinoids. An additional discovery from the mailroom revealed a book with several pages being covered in an oily substance, which yielded a preliminary positive result for Fentanyl.
Saturday, 9/7
On Saturday 9/7, TACT continued searches and confiscated two improvised weapons and made two separate discoveries of pieces of paper that yielded a preliminary positive result for synthetic cannabinoids.
Sunday, 9/8
During cell searches on Sunday 9/8, the TACT team located a liquid substance in a nasal spray bottle, but preliminary testing did not yield any known substance. Additionally on Sunday 9/8, the team located pieces of paper saturated in an unknown substance, which yielded a preliminary positive result for synthetic cannabinoids. Two of the TACT officers conducting the cell searches in North 1 experienced medical symptoms and were taken to an outside hospital via state vehicle. A sergeant who was present for those searches reported feeling ill and was transported to an outside hospital via ambulance. All impacted staff were treated and released. The Department is working with the Illinois State Police (ISP) to conduct further testing of those items. All substances located during the searches on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were sent to ISP for additional testing.Â
Monday, 9/9
On Monday 9/9, TACT continued searches and made three different recoveries of pieces of paper that yielded a preliminary positive result for synthetic cannabinoids. These items were sent to ISP for additional testing.
In a separate incident on Monday, 9/9, one staff member from the mailroom started exhibiting symptoms while opening mail and was transported to an outside hospital via ambulance. The remaining staff in the mailroom were then relocated to the facility’s warehouse. While in the warehouse, another mailroom employee exhibited symptoms and was transported to an outside hospital via ambulance. Subsequently, two other staff members, who were not in the mailroom, but came in contact with the first two mailroom employees, started exhibiting symptoms and were taken to the outside hospital via ambulance. Later, one mailroom staff member reported feeling ill and was transported to an outside hospital via state vehicle. Another mailroom staff member was taken to the hospital by state vehicle without symptoms for precautionary measures. All impacted staff were treated and released. A team consisting of members of the Illinois State Police (ISP), supported by members of the Illinois National Guard, were on-site to assist with testing items of concern in the mailroom. The investigation into the recent events at Menard are ongoing.
In late August, News 3 reported a dozen staff members were also taken to a hospital after experiencing symptoms then as well.
