A one-year-old is alive today thanks to the fast actions of detectives assigned to the Tri-DENT team (Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team), who were first on the scene of a medical emergency on the evening of December 23.
At approximately 5:45 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting that the child had ingested fentanyl and was not breathing.
The call triggered a multi-agency response.
Tri-DENT detectives, representing the Nevada State Police Investigation Division (NDI), the Winnemucca Police Department, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lander County Sheriff’s Office, arrived at the apartment complex within about one minute of the call being dispatched.
Upon the Tri-DENT team's arrival, a man ran toward the officers carrying the unresponsive child and reported that the one-year-old had ingested fentanyl.
Detectives immediately took custody of the child, conducted a rapid assessment, administered intranasal naloxone, and began CPR. The child did not initially respond to the treatment and was given a second dose of naloxone while officers continued CPR. The child soon began breathing.
Additional law enforcement and emergency medical responders arrived to assist. The child was transported to a local hospital for further medical care.
During the incident, the child’s mother fled the apartment complex in a car and later collided with the rear of a commercial vehicle on Interstate 80 west of Winnemucca. The crash is under investigation.
The Winnemucca Police Department is leading the investigation into the child endangerment incident.
