KENOSHA, Wis. — Two Kenosha County sheriff’s deputies are being credited with saving the life of a 47-year-old Lake Geneva woman who appeared to be overdosing inside her vehicle at a Kwik Trip in December.

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Sarah Jean Busch, 47, of Lake Geneva, was charged Thursday with felony possession of narcotic drugs along with misdemeanor counts of possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was issued a summons and is due to make her initial appearance May 12 at 1 p.m.

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According to the criminal complaint, Kenosha County Sheriff’s Deputies Tritschler and Ali responded at about 3:31 p.m. Dec. 30 to the Kwik Trip at 12224 75th St. after dispatchers received a report of a woman inside a Ford Explorer who appeared to be overdosing.

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When deputies arrived, Busch was found unresponsive inside the vehicle. Deputy Ali administered Narcan through Busch’s left nostril while deputies pulled her from the vehicle and placed her on the ground to continue lifesaving efforts.

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Deputy Tritschler found that Busch still had a pulse, but she remained unresponsive. He observed that her pupils were constricted, her lips were turning purple and she appeared to be suffering from agonal breathing, often described as a snoring sound associated with medical distress.

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Deputies attempted sternum rubs to revive Busch, but she did not respond. About four minutes after the first Narcan dose, Tritschler administered a second dose in Busch’s other nostril as her condition failed to improve.

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The deputies then prepared an automated external defibrillator, which advised that no shock was necessary. Shortly afterward, as Deputy Ali began CPR, Busch began moving her arms, opened her eyes and eventually sat up. She later became alert enough to stand and walk to an ambulance before being taken to a hospital in Pleasant Prairie.

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While at the scene, deputies searched Busch’s purse for identification and information about what may have caused the overdose. Investigators reported finding six Xanax pills not contained in a prescription bottle, a folded dollar bill containing a powdery substance and a short plastic straw with residue inside.

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Busch later told deputies at the hospital that she had left work at Cracker Barrel, where she worked as a manager, after having a bad day and contacted her brother in hopes of obtaining drugs. She allegedly admitted buying what she believed was Percocet and cocaine from a man in Kenosha before snorting the cocaine and taking the pill.

She told deputies she blacked out after arriving at the Kwik Trip parking lot and said the next thing she remembered was deputies performing CPR on her.

Testing later showed the powder found in Busch’s purse contained both cocaine and fentanyl, according to the complaint.

The most serious charge, possession of fentanyl, carries a maximum penalty of 3 years and 6 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. Busch’s total maximum exposure on all charges is 4 years, 1 month in prison and $16,000 in fines.

When KCE contacted for Sheriff’s Office for comment, Captain Tony Gonzalez told us:

“Deputies Tritschler and Ali quickly recognized the signs of an overdose and immediately administered Narcan, providing critical, lifesaving care. Their swift and composed response helped revive the woman, who was then transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

Incidents like this serve as an important reminder that overdoses can occur anywhere and can escalate within minutes. We urge community members to stay aware and prepared. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available and reaching out can save a life. In an emergency, call 911 immediately. We also encourage individuals and families to connect with local support services or treatment providers before a crisis occurs. Kenosha County residents can find additional resources through our colleagues at the Behavioral Health Services Department at the link below.”

https://www.kenoshacountywi.gov/1916/Naloxone-NARCAN-Distribution-Program