An inmate at FCI-Safford had to be hospitalized over the weekend after overdosing at the prison.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A 25-year-old inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution – Safford was hospitalized for a drug overdose on Sunday.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, a deputy and paramedics from Lifeline Ambulance were dispatched to the prison at about 6:50 p.m. regarding an inmate overdose.
FCI-Safford is a low-security correctional institution located at 1529 W. Highway 366 (Swift Trail). According to the Bureau of Prisons, the facility holds only male offenders with a total population of 760 inmates.
According to the report, the inmate overdosed on an “unknown medication.” Upon paramedics’ response to the overdose, they requested a deputy accompany them as they transported the inmate to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center for treatment. The inmate was reportedly breathing during his interaction with paramedics but was not responsive.
The inmate was then loaded into an ambulance while the deputy observed. The deputy then escorted the ambulance to the hospital with his emergency lights and sirens activated to expedite going through intersections.
A request to the Bureau of Prisons and FCI-Safford regarding the inmate’s current status and what caused the overdose was declined to be answered.
“For privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not discuss the conditions of confinement, including medical status, for a specific inmate or group of inmates, nor do we discuss whether a particular inmate is the subject of allegations, investigations, or sanctions,” an email from the Bureau of Prisons stated. “Beyond this, we have no additional information to provide.”