Prestonsburg officer credited with saving overdose victim’s life

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

PRESTONSBURG — A Prestonsburg police officer with a background as a firefighter and certified EMT saved a female who had overdosed April 20 and was dumped out at a gas station, authorities said.

Five hours later, the same officer arrested the alleged drug distributor, according to a press release from the Prestonsburg Police Department.

Phillip Burgin of Johnson County was charged with a parole board warrant; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, heroin; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, methamphetamine; first-degree wanton endangerment; two counts of second-degree wanton endangerment; tampering with physical evidence; first-degree promoting contraband; first-degree persistent felony offender; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The press release said that Prestonsburg 911 Center received a call from Exxon Tiger Mart of an unresponsive female being dumped out of a vehicle whose occupants were thought to be intoxicated.

Prestonsburg patrolman Jacob Chaffins, who has a background as a firefighter and a certified EMT, and his trainee were the first to arrive at the female's aid, the release said.

Chaffins assessed the female and notified 911 that he suspected the female was in an overdose, that her respirations were less than five per minute and that she did not have a readable blood pressure, the release said.

Chaffins began rendering aid and issued Narcan to the victim, the release said, and the officer was alone for some time before an ambulance, responding from the north end of the county, arrived to assist. Chaffins was assisted further by personnel from the Prestonsburg Fire Department.

“There is no dispute that Ptl. Chaffins’ early arrival and intervention coupled with his training saved the victim’s life,” the release said.

After the victim regained consciousness and Det. Brad Caldwell, Chaffins along with other officers and dispatchers began conducting an investigation into the events that had taken place, the release said.

Officers learned that the victim and three males had gone to a local motel and purchased a quantity of fentanyl-laced heroin for recreational use, the release said.

“Following the victim's use of these drugs, she began overdosing in the parking lot of Tiger Mart where her counterparts removed her from the vehicle and left her laying,” the April 21 release said. “We are aware of who they are and what they are driving and are seeking charges on them as of the time of this release.”

Officers learned that Phillip Burgin of Johnson County was in a local motel, was wanted for absconding parole for several previous felony convictions and was the person who sold the drugs to the female, the release said.

“Burgin was thought to be armed and dangerous, was a flight risk, and had his two children in the room with him,” the release said. “Det. Caldwell obtained a search warrant for the room and with the assistance of the entire squad executed that warrant. Chaffins was able to arrest Burgin within five hours of the original overdose call.”

The release said officers recovered a quantity of heroin, methamphetamine, individual baggies for packaging of product, scales and three mobile telephones used to communicate with customers and distributors in the room, adding that officers “got in those phones, too, by the way.”

“Additionally, Burgin was found trying to destroy evidence following knocking and announcing our intent to enter the room,” the release said.

The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services was notified, and the children were left in the care of their mother who had been working all day, the release said

Burgin was lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center.

The Prestonsburg Police Department also said in the release that it encourages anyone who needs its services or suspect any illegal activity to call (606) 886-1010.