Whatcom County jail officials uncover contraband plot
BELLINGHAM, Washington (AP) – A person was arrested after Corrections officers reportedly uncovered a conspiracy to smuggle tobacco to inmates at Whatcom County Jail.
“This case underscores the continued vigilance and efforts of our corrections staff to restrict the introduction of contraband into the jail and work heart to maintain inmates and employees secure,” the Whatcom County Sheriff’s workplace stated in a press launch.
Steven Lee Dodson, 42, was admitted to jail final week on suspicion of third-degree contraband and driving license suspended. Jail data present he’s being held as an alternative of $ 5,000 bail, the Bellingham Herald reported.
In line with the press launch, MPs first realized of the smuggling conspiracy on January 14. They monitored 9 cellphone calls made by 32-year-old inmate Cody Lee Wilson between 7.45pm and 9.30pm to an unknown individual exterior the jail.
Particulars of when and the place the confederate would meet Wilson’s connection and particulars of how he can be smuggled into the jail had been mentioned in the course of the calls, officers stated.
At round 8.45 p.m., the Corrections MPs found a automobile that matched the outline of the automobile spoken about within the cellphone calls. A person then went to the world between the jail and the courthouse and seemed round earlier than returning to the automobile and leaving.
MPs stopped the automobile and recognized the driving force as Dodson, who admitted driving with a driver’s license and was arrested, the press launch stated.
Within the entrance seat of the automobile, the MPs noticed a big straw with a loop product of a rope hooked up to it. Dodson later allegedly admitted that the straw was stuffed with tobacco and was to be taken to inmates within the jail’s out of doors recreation space. It wasn’t instantly recognized whether or not he had a lawyer.
Corrections officers discovered a “fishing line” made out of a line with a pencil hooked up to the top of the recreation space as a weight, in accordance with the decree.