• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Police released footage after officer overdosed during traffic stop

Home> News> US News> Police

Published 11:25 8 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Police released footage after officer overdosed during traffic stop

Officer Courtney Bannick fought for her life after she came into contact with fentanyl

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Featured Image Credit: Courtney Bannick / Facebook / Tavares Police Dept

Topics: Drugs, Police, US News

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Bodycam footage released by police in Florida caught the harrowing moment one of their own officers seemingly 'overdosed' on fentanyl during a routine traffic stop.

Police often release bodycam footage of incidents to shed light on the behavior of criminals, but in this instance, the camera was firmly pointed at Officer Courtney Bannick of the Tavares Police Department.

Bannick had been one of the officers conducting a routine traffic stop in December 2022 when she encountered a driver who had fentanyl rolled up in a dollar bill.

The officer, who had been interrogating the passenger, wore gloves as she handled the drug, but they apparently weren't enough to offer protection from the illegal substance.

Advert

Bannick lost consciousness and passed out in the middle of a road, leaving her fighting for her life.

Officers attempted to slowly wake her up by tapping her face very lightly.

"She's not breathing, Ronnie, hit her again," one officer said.

Thankfully, Bannick did wake up from the apparent overdose.

Advert

Shocking police bodycam footage shows the moment an officer 'overdoses' on fentanyl during a routine traffic stop.
The Tavares Police Department

Speaking to FOX35 Orlando in the wake of the incident, fellow officer Courtney Sullivan said: "She was completely lifeless, she looked deceased in these videos. So she is very thankful today.

"If the other officers weren’t there, there’s a very high chance and probability that today would be different and that we would be wearing our thin blue line – the straps that go over our badges."

Bannick acknowledged the dangers of handling drugs when she spoke out afterwards, saying: "I have done this 100 times before the same way.

Advert

"It only takes one time and a minimal amount. I’m thankful I wasn’t alone and had immediate help."

At the time, the individuals in the vehicle faced possible felony charges.

The Tavares Police Department shared the clip of Officer Courtney Bannick - who was fighting for life after pulling over a car last December.
The Tavares Police Department

In 2023, experts interviewed by NPR said police are suffering severe medical symptoms after touching or inhaling powdered fentanyl 'every few weeks'.

Advert

However, in spite of Bannick's experience, these experts claimed officers weren't actually experiencing fentanyl or opioid overdoses.

"This has never happened," said Dr. Ryan Marino, a toxicologist and emergency room physician who studies addiction at Case Western Reserve University. "There has never been an overdose through skin contact or accidentally inhaling fentanyl."

"Fentanyl does not pass through the skin efficiently or well," Marino continued. "The dry powder form that's encountered in street drugs is not going to pass through the skin in any meaningful way."

"There's never been a toxicologically confirmed case," said Brandon Del Pozo, a former police chief who studies addiction and drug policy at Brown University. "The idea of it hanging in the air and getting breathed in is highly highly implausible - it's nearly impossible."

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Diddy denied bail after being found guilty on 2 out of 5 counts in sex trafficking and prostitution case

    Diddy has been denied bail after being found guilty on two of five charges he was facing

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Donald Trump makes shocking threat he wants to deport US citizens and people are stunned

    Donald Trump has made a threat to deport US citizens following the opening of a migrant centre in Florida

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Bryan Kohberger speaks for first time in court admitting to how he brutally murdered four Idaho students

    The Idaho murder suspect has spoken out following the brutal murders of four students in 2022

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Former prosecutor explains why Diddy was found not guilty on 3 out of 5 counts in sex trafficking and prostitution case

    A legal expert has shared his thoughts about why Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been found not guilty of three counts

    News
  • Disturbing 5-word statement police officer said to colleague after fatally shooting man during routine traffic stop
  • 'Disturbing' police bodycam footage shows officer laughing after student was fatally hit by car
  • Father of Sonya Massey who was killed by police officer speaks out after ‘heart-wrenching’ footage surfaced online
  • Shocking footage shows church's reaction to shooter opening fire as security's quick-thinking saved lives