Sheriff's K-9 survives fentanyl exposure during search of Everett apartment
EVERETT, Wash. — A Snohomish County sheriff's K-9 officer is recovering after being exposed to fentanyl during a search of an Everett apartment suspected of housing a drug trafficking organization.
Drug Task Force K-9 Sully and his handler were helping the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit (SCIDEU) serve a search warrant at an Everett apartment when the exposure happened. Detectives cleared the apartment and Sully and his handler were sent inside to do a search, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. Sully is trained to detect methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, and he indicted several areas inside the apartment during the search.
Following the search, Sully was returned to his kennel inside a vehicle and was left there for about 15 minutes while his handler did another search of the apartment. When the handler came back, he noticed Sully was unresponsive and wouldn't wake up. His handler jumped into action and administered Narcan, the overdose reversal drug, to Sully.
Sully was given at least three doses of Narcan and rushed to an ER vet. The animal began waking up upon arrival at the vet and has been receiving treatment. Sully is "very tired" but doing well, according to sheriff officials.
The SCIDEU identified a drug trafficking organization operating out of an apartment near Merrill Creek Parkway in Everett in the fall of 2022. The organization was allegedly supplying a "substantial" amount of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, methamphetamine, and cocaine to residents of Skagit County.
Through the investigation, authorities discovered several drug dealers that were receiving and re-distributing drugs they had received from the suspects apartment, including drugs being sold by a local pastor, according to a press release from the SCIDEU. Investigators also uncovered that drugs were being re-distributed as far north as Whatcom County.
During the service of the search warrant at the apartment on May 11, along with the help of K-9 Sully, law enforcement seized over half a million fentanyl-laced pills, 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.8 kilograms of cocaine, nearly a pound of heroin, over 1 pound of fentanyl powder, six firearms, and over $250,000 in cash.
Several suspects were arrested, according to the SCIDEU, but their identities have not been revealed.
A 5-year-old child was also discovered living in the apartment, where drugs and guns were unsecured and accessible. Snohomish County Child Protective Services responded and removed the child, officials said.
The suspects involved in the case are pending federal prosecution.
