Irwin County Sheriff talks mail attack that hospitalized four

(OCILLA, GA) – What should’ve just been a normal mail check for inmates at the Irwin County Detention Center turned into an attack on county deputies.

“Officers in the mail room at the detention center examine the mail when it comes in. Four got sick, they had trouble breathing, respiratory, they felt nauseated,” says Irwin County Sheriff Cody Youghn.

The four deputies were taken to the hospital, and two others for testing.

Sheriff Youghn says they’re working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to determine what was in the mail.

He tells us, “We’ve sent the items out to the GBIi, the test results came back inconclusive for opioids or drugs. So the next step would be working with the fire department to detect any hazmat material.”

Sheriff Youghn says the mail’s author will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of federal law.

“It’s very disturbing. There’s some mean people out there…And it’s very unfortunate event that could’ve possibly cost people their lives,” says Youghn.

Sheriff Youghn says that no further information can be released at this time. But he does tell us that all deputies have been released from the hospital and a couple are back to work.