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Pinellas County jail investigates inmate overdoses

Posted at 5:40 AM, Apr 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-28 05:42:02-04

Three inmates are recovering after overdosing on drugs that were smuggled into the Pinellas County jail on Thursday.

The inmates were immediately rushed to the hospital following the overdose. They are expected to be okay. 

Deputies say that inmate Robert Gilner, 29, admitted to bringing the drugs into the detention facility. Gilner had only been in jail since Tuesday. He was arrested on a DUI charge. 

Gilner is now facing several additional charges. 

Gilner, along with Jason Sandy, 31, and Jason Koketek, 30, fell ill. Deputies realized they were high and overdosing.

The three inmates were rushed to a local hospital where deputies discovered Gilner had what is being described as a 'white powdery substance'.

Gilner admitted he snuck the drugs in when he was booked earlier this week.

He will be charged with Introduction of Contraband into a Detention Facility. Deputies say that additional drug charges are likely.

Investigators are speaking with Gilner in hopes of discovering how he got the drugs into the secured facility. The sheriff's office is also reviewing if mistakes were made in the booking process.