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Nine St. Joseph County Police officers quarantined after suspect displayed COVID-19 symptoms

(Photo supplied/St. Joseph County Police Department)

Nine St. Joseph County Police officers were quarantined or sent home to self-isolate on Thursday, March 26, after coming in contact with a suspect who showed symptoms of COVID-19 shortly after being arrested. The suspect was then tested for COVID-19 at the county jail, those results are still pending.

None of the nine County Police officers have any symptoms of the virus, nor have any been recommended for COVID-19 test. The quarantine was made by the department out of caution to the officers, their families, and our other officers.

Three county officers involved in a physical, hands on arrest of the subject on Monday, March 23, were placed in quarantine. That decision was made by police administration after reviewing the facts of the arrest, the CDC guidance and discussing the incident with department medical staff. Some South Bend Police Officers were also involved in the arrest. SBPD supervisors have been notified of the arrest subject’s symptoms and pending test.

Additionally, five County Police Detectives and one County Police task force officer were sent home, Thursday, to self-isolate out of extra caution. During a call back to the suspect’s home on Wednesday, the six entered the subject’s residence to execute a search warrant of the residence and the subject’s bedroom.The precaution of isolating these six is not required by CDC guidance, but was recommended department medical staff to prevent any potential mass exposure to our department. These six officers all continue to work on their cases from home in coordination with other detectives.

The suspect’s family, who also resides in the home have been notified. The County Jail medical staff expect the subject’s COVID-19 test results to be completed by the outside lab on Sunday or Monday.

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