PHOENIX — A paralegal was arrested by detectives with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for attempting to smuggle synthetic drugs into the Fourth Avenue Jail.
According to a release, paralegal Christopher Byers was found submitting paperwork with residue that tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids on Thursday.
A search of Byers’ home, after detectives obtained a warrant, revealed more papers that were similar to the ones containing drugs in the initial discovery.
“Keeping drugs out of our jail facility is one of my highest priorities,” Sheriff Jerry Sheridan said in the release.
“The safety of our staff, inmates and the integrity of our facilities rely on a zero-tolerance approach. We remain fully committed to preventing the flow of contraband and holding accountable anyone who attempts to introduce it.”
Problem of drugs in prison on the rise
12 inmates suffered from drug overdoses in the Estrella Jail in February. One of those inmates died on Valentine’s Day.
Authorities believe an inmate smuggled in the drugs in that case.
Later in February, Sheridan took to the airways to defend his decision to stop using body scanners on detention officers.
“In the last 25 years, there have been two sheriff’s detention officers that have smuggled drugs into the jail system,” Sheridan said on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos. “The drugs are not coming in our system by our detention officers.”
He believes that a staff shortage is a contributing factor to the overdose drug spike.
He argues having body scanners for detention officers shows a lack of trust in those officers that also deters new hires.
“We just don’t have enough staff to adequately search the prisoners. … I’m supposed to have 2,200 detention officers. I have a little over 1,100,” he said in February.
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