Summerville, S.C. (WCIV) — A Charleston County deputy is being monitored after suffering a reaction to an unknown substance while inside her police cruiser, according to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.
ABC News 4 was told of multiple police and emergency vehicles near Old Trolley Road in Summerville Wednesday evening.
According to the sheriff's office, just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, a Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputy traveling on Savannah Round in Summerville, while in route to work, had a reaction to an unknown irritant emitting from the inside of her patrol vehicle.
Police say the deputy experienced dizziness from the irritant. She stopped her patrol vehicle on Savannah Round and notified other personnel.
An ambulance transported the deputy to a hospital for evaluation and treatment. The deputy does not have life-threatening conditions and is alert and talking. The patrol vehicle was towed to a secure location to be sanitized.
A few days ago, the same deputy, during a traffic stop, seized an unknown powder substance from a subject. The powder substance was contained within rolled-up currency. The deputy, while inside her patrol car, received an irritant-type reaction similar to today’s reaction. The patrol vehicle was cleaned after the first exposure.
On today’s incident, the deputy activated the vehicle’s air conditioning and immediately felt the irritant.
The substance was contained within the vehicle and at no time was it released into the environment.
There was no reaction to other first responders that assisted the deputy. At this time there is no concern of public or environmental contamination. Deputies are awaiting results of the laboratory exam on the substance seized during the initial exposure.
The cruiser was towed from the area, police say.