A local man who had second thoughts about trying to smuggle drugs into the Campbell County jail late Tuesday night saved himself an automatic felony charge.
That’s because when asked by officers at the detention center if he had any drugs on him, the 32-year-old said yes, then retrieved a small metal box containing fentanyl and cocaine from his buttocks.
Trying to smuggle contraband into jail by stashing it where the sun doesn’t shine isn’t a regular thing, but it does happen, said Lt. Paul Pownall of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office in Gillette, Wyoming.
“You’d be surprised,” he said when asked about what types of contraband suspects try to sneak into jail. “But more often than not, we catch that stuff at the door.”
That’s because jail officials always give suspects one last chance before the intake process. If they give up any illegal substances that might’ve been missed during the arrest, they can avoid a more serious charge.
Getting caught trying to sneak drugs into jail is a felony, even if it’s just a small amount that would be a misdemeanor charge outside.
‘I’m Not Too Surprised’
In this case, the suspect was stopped for speeding and a drug dog indicated on his truck, said Pownell. Officers found three alleged fentanyl pills and some pot, and he was arrested on suspicion of drug possession.
While this suspect did, not all suspects give up their butt stashes voluntarily.
Pownell said he’s seen quite a bit during his time as a law officer, but mostly when someone’s using themselves to smuggle stuff into jail, it’s drugs or weapons.
“I’m not too surprised anymore about what people think they can get away with,” he said. “I think they just hope we’ll overlook that area or possibly miss that area” during a search.
He also said that most people being booked into jail aren't having their best days.
“We’re catching people and dealing with people on possibly the worst day of their lives, and they’re probably not thinking it through like you or I might," he said.
While it may be cliché to try and smuggle something into jail the natural way, it doesn’t hold a candle to another excuse suspects use often.
“I’ve heard it quite often that those aren’t their pants,” he said.
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
