A 34-year-old man found unconscious, allegedly from drug use, in a portable toilet in Sunset Park on Monday (May 11) survived, but probably only because a technician came by to service the facility, Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis says.
He said the Festus man recovered after Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District personnel performed life-saving procedures.
“The person who found him probably saved his life,” Lewis said. “He was unconscious and could not respond and emergency personnel treated him. He came to after they treated him.”
The Police Department received the technician’s call about the incident at 12:20 p.m.
“The guy doing maintenance on the toilet found the door was locked and thought something was wrong,” Lewis said. “He forced open the door and found the man unconscious inside. There was drug paraphernalia. We’re treating it as an overdose.”
JPAD personnel transported the man to Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City, Lewis said.
The was not arrested. Lewis said the incident is under investigation.
“We sent (materials seized) to the lab for analysis,” he said. “If it comes back positive, it will be used to determine what charges will be sought.”