Mendocino County Sheriff's Office
Saving a fentanyal overdoser can be dangerous for first responsders- this is what happened when they tried in Boonville on Friday
| Narcan saves many lives. It brings back people who are unresponsive, apparently dead, but not quite. But they are rarely appreciative of this. We have seen them wake up very angry and attack the very people saving their lives. One addict told me “It’s a sudden jolt. You return from something like heaven to the hell of reality.” That’s what happened here. Emergency workers also deal with the fact fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin, but this danger was greatly overhyped at first and it doesnt happen simply by touching it, as was once feared. Properly trained workers are extremely unlikely now to have this happen, but there are sensibile guidelines to follow. Much of Fentanyl comes from Asian countries and is shipped in now in small quantities. And that drug is the one causing the overdoses. Rarely has there been an overdose with hospital-grade fentanyl made and manufactured in a regulated environment. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiod 50x stronger than morphine or heroin. In the hands of a physician, it is a wonderful, controlled pain reliever in the emergency room. Less potent and dangerous opoids are prescribed for home treatment of severe pain. As a recreational drug, it is one of the most deadly in history. More than 250,000 Americans have died of fentanyl overdoes since 2021, according to the CDC. The use of Narcan pens may have saved almost as many as those who have died, there are no figures on this, but public health authorities frequently say “hundreds of thousands” have been saved by the use of Naloxone (Narcan) injections, usually by first responders. And they are often attacked by people who are also confused as to what plane of reality they are on, according to my source. One big fact often not explained to regular people trying to save lives with Narco is that hardcore addicts may need 2×3 injections to respond, the amount of drug they are taking is so much. We got this press release today. Normally, it would be wrong for the sheriff to give the name of the man who overdosed. But he then attacked them and fled and there are clear rules, cited in this press release, for when a victim becomes someone accused of a crime. We thought this press release presented a clear picture of what first responders deal with as to fentanyl. The man is innocent until proven guilty. And being confused is no reason to attack. From all I have read and heard, a person brought back like this does not normally meet any definition of insane, usually just upset and confused and with the ability to choose. Authorities likely help by getting them somewhere where they are not a risk to the community and able to get treatment for themselves and start thinking about how they are going to stop doing this sort of thing. But we don’t know anything at all about this person and there may be other relevant facts. DATE: “June 1, 2026” FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Incident Number: 2026-9766 Crime/Incident: 148(a) PC – Obstruction or resisting a peace officer 148.10 PC – Causing serious bodily injury to a peace officer in the performance of their duties 11377(a) HS – Possession of a controlled substance 11550(a) HS – Under the influence of a controlled substance 11364(a) HS – Possession of drug paraphernalia Location: 13000 block of Anderson Valley Way, Boonville CA Date of Incident: May 29, 2026 Time: 02:26 A.M. Victim(s): People of the State of California Suspect(s): Jack Hayward (31-Year-Old Male from Boonville, CA) Written By: Sergeant J. Woida #2710 Synopsis: On 05/29/2026 at approximately 0200 hours, CalFire Howard Forrest Dispatch Center received a call requesting medical personnel respond to a residence within the 13000 block of Anderson Valley Way in Boonville, CA, for a report of an unresponsive subject who overdosed on suspected fentanyl. Upon medical personnel arriving at the scene, they located Jack Hayward, a 31-year-old male, unconscious and unresponsive to physical stimulus. The paramedics observed drug paraphernalia near Hayward at the scene. Due to Hayward’s unresponsive condition, Narcan was administered. Hayward’s condition improved slightly; however, he remained mostly unresponsive. Additional doses of Narcan were subsequently administered. Following the Narcan administration, Hayward regained consciousness and became alert; however, he appeared confused, disoriented, and in an altered mental state. Hayward soon became upset and began displaying aggressive and combative behavior towards emergency medical personnel, prompting the request for an emergency law enforcement response. Before Hayward could be fully evaluated and treated, he fled the scene on foot and refused further medical treatment, voiding the protections afforded under 11376.5 HS for criminal violations at the scene of a drug-related overdose. Medical personnel requested Sheriff’s Deputies respond when Hayward became hostile and combative during their efforts to perform their duties. Sheriff’s Deputies subsequently located Hayward walking on Highway 128 and attempted to contact him. Upon seeing law enforcement, Hayward immediately fled on foot. Based on information that Hayward had recently overdosed on narcotics and became combative with medical personnel, Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to detain him and continue their investigation for violations of 11550(a) HS – Under the influence of a controlled substance, and 243(b) PC – Battery on a firefighter or EMT. Sheriff’s Deputies activated their emergency lights and siren and issued repeated commands identifying themselves as law enforcement and ordering him to stop, but Hayward continued to flee. Hayward led deputies through hazardous terrain consisting of a steep embankment, large rocks, dense vegetation, and a creek underneath a bridge. During the foot pursuit, a Sheriff’s Deputy fell and sustained a significant injury, which later required admission to a local hospital and surgical procedures to include sutures. Hayward continued fleeing and ignored additional lawful commands from law enforcement to stop. Hayward was ultimately apprehended after attempting to conceal himself in a private driveway. A search incident to arrest revealed Hayward was in possession of methamphetamine. Hayward was placed under arrest for 11377 HS – Possession of a controlled substance and transported back to the original location, where additional drug paraphernalia was located. Hayward later provided a statement to Sheriff’s Deputies, acknowledging his awareness they were law enforcement officials and his decision to flee and attempt to avoid arrest. Based on the investigation, Hayward was also arrested for 11550(a) HS – Under the influence of a controlled substance, 11364(a) HS – Possession of drug paraphernalia, 148(a)(1) PC – resisting or obstructing a peace officer, and 148.10 PC – Causing serious bodily injury to a peace officer in the performance of their duties. Hayward was booked into the Mendocino County Jail, where he was subsequently released on his signed promise to appear in accordance with the current Mendocino County Superior Court Bail Schedule. The Sheriff’s Deputy who was injured during this incident is expected to make a full recovery. Anyone with information related to this incident is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100. |
