On September 3, 2019, at approximately 7:03 a.m., Officer Gene Colato responded to a report of a subject not breathing in the 4500 block of Runway Street. When Officer Colato arrived, he was directed to a trailer that was located inside a parking lot. He entered the trailer and observed two citizens performing CPR on a male subject. Officer Colato immediately took over treatment and conducted an assessment on the subject. Based on the subject’s symptoms, Officer Colato believed the subject was suffering from an opioid overdose. Officer Colato promptly administered Naloxone (Narcan) and the subject began breathing. Ventura County Fire Department personnel arrived at the scene a short time later and the subject was transported to a local hospital for additional care. As the investigation progressed, Officer Colato learned the male subject consumed alcohol and took an unknown amount of Percocet prescription medication prior to his medical episode. Percocet is a pain medication which contains Acetaminophen and Oxycodone.
Simi Valley Police Department has been deploying Naloxone kits in every patrol vehicle since April 2018. Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that binds to opioid receptors to reverse and block the effects of other opioids. The medication is administered through the nasal passages and is similar to that of a nasal spray. Naloxone only reverses the effects of opioids such as Heroin, Morphine, Methadone, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Fentanyl. It does not reverse the effects of any other drugs.
Simi Valley Police Department continues to support prevention and intervention strategies to decrease the misuse of prescription pain medications. Simi Valley Police Department requests that citizens promptly call 9-1-1 at the first signs that someone may be overdosing or having a medical emergency.
Commander Steve Shorts
Public Relations Bureau
Media Contact: (805) 501-3070
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