Five Dallas officers sent home after arresting man who later claimed to have coronavirus
Five Dallas police officers were given a day off work after a person they arrested Sunday told detention officers he had coronavirus, according to media reports.
The officers responded to a disturbance call at about 9 a.m. Sunday at an apartment in the 5900 block of Hudson Street, the Dallas police department said in a press release. Dallas Fire and Rescue officers took the 24-year-old man to an area hospital for injuries that he received from an assault. The suspect was treated by staff and taken to jail and charged with assault family violence.
The suspect told detention officers he had coronavirus, but showed no symptoms, Fox 4 News reported. At about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, detention officers notified Dallas police and the five officers who came into contact with the suspect were given a day off as a precaution.
The suspect was taken to Parkland Hospital in a private ambulance.
The officer’s squad cars were also removed from service for cleaning, per the department’s contagious disease policy.
Members of the department are currently working with medical professionals to draft a protocol for officers to ensure their safety, according to the press release.
