This afternoon at approximately 2:40 p.m., Clovis Police Officers were dispatched to
a suspicious person call behind the Trader Joe’s at Willow and Nees. When officers
arrived, they contacted Patrick Martin, a transient, who was found to have active
arrest warrants. Upon searching his vehicle after the arrest, officers located a white
substance in a plastic container believed to be a controlled substance. The
container was packaged in a paper bag and secured in the trunk of the patrol car. A
Community Service Officer also assisted in transporting Mr. Martin’s property from
the vehicle.

As both officers were driving to Clovis PD headquarters, they each began to have
shortness of breath and an elevated heart rate. Both notified dispatch and stopped
their vehicles. Paramedics were immediately dispatched and arrived on scene to
treat them both. They were transported to the hospital and checked by medical staff.
Both are in good condition and have been released from the hospital.

The California Department of Justice High Intensity Investigation Team, a drug task
force, responded to test the substance. The substance tested positive for both
fentanyl and methamphetamine. Mr. Martin was booked for multiple warrants and
drug charges. He will be transported to Fresno County Jail.

Fentanyl is a dangerous drug! Even the slightest exposure can cause overdose
and/or death. While it was not used today, all of our Officers have Narcan readily
available in their patrol vehicles. Our department has experienced a growing number
of fentanyl exposures and deaths in the community, and we will continue to educate
the public on the dangers of the drug.