Earlier this week, at least three separate units were involved in the arrest of a man caught with a large amount of Fentanyl in his vehicle.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S. 

According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the amount recovered from the vehicle was determined to be enough fentanyl to kill at least 7,000 people. A press release from UCSO stated: 

“On Monday, March 27, Union County Sheriff Deputy Eric VanWinkle was notified by Oxford Police Department Patrolman Scott Campbell of a possible stolen vehicle coming into West College Corner from Ohio. Deputy VanWinkle was able to locate the vehicle at U.S. 27 and 9-Mile Road. The vehicle was pursued onto Smith Road, where the vehicle finally stopped at the dead end of Smith Road. Sheriff Adams requested for Liberty Police Officer Dickenson to respond to the scene with his K-9 "Rogue." A Felony stop was initiated and the suspect was taken into custody. Liberty K9 hit on the vehicle, and a search of the vehicle discovered a substance that was determined to be Fentanyl.  The suspect Jason Hardin was taken into custody and booked into the Union County Jail on multiple charges. Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. “A huge Thank You to Deputy Eric VanWinkle, LPD Officer Todd Dickenson and his partner K-9 Rogue, OPD Patrolman Scott Campbell and U.C. Dispatchers.”