3 Orange County deputies taken to hospital after possible exposure to fentanyl

Three Orange County sheriff's deputies were taken to a hospital after the Sheriff's Office says they were exposed to the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Deputies on Friday afternoon arrested a man on felony narcotics charges.  While on their way to the jail, deputies say the suspect began showing signs of an overdose, so they administered Narcan, which is a medication used to block the effects of opioids.

Back-up units responded, including the fire department; however, during the incident, the three deputies say they began to feel the effects of a possible overdose after somehow being exposed to fentanyl.

Officials say the three deputies were taken to the hospital, along with the suspect, as a precautionary measure. They are expected to be okay. 

Sheriff John Mina tweeted,  "Glad our deputies are going to be ok. This highlights the dangers of Fentanyl. Drug dealers continue to traffic this deadly drug for profit with no regard to anyone or anything but their own greed."