Crime

Look how these people tried to mail drugs to a local jail. A dog sniffed out one plan

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man after he allegedly mailed methamphetamine to a jail concealed under a flap on a letter.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man after he allegedly mailed methamphetamine to a jail concealed under a flap on a letter. Tulare County Sheriff's Office

Two letters containing drugs were mailed into the Bob Wiley Detention Center in Tulare County recently, where a K9 named Faith helped sniff one of them out, according to a press release from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were called to the facility on Jan. 24, after a letter appeared to be altered and contained a crystal-like substance, the sheriff’s office said. It was found to be methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine hidden inside a letter was allegedly mailed to the Bob Wiley Detention Facility in Tulare County.
Methamphetamine hidden inside a letter was allegedly mailed to the Bob Wiley Detention Facility in Tulare County. Tulare County Sheriff's Office

Arlene Villa, 55, was arrested at the detention facility after deputies connected her to sending the letter. A search of her vehicle allegedly revealed a digital scale, white crystal residue and a glass smoking device with half a gram of meth inside.

Villa was booked on suspicion of knowingly bringing a controlled substance into jail or prison, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The same day of Villa’s arrest, the mail room received received another envelope addressed to an inmate that had a light brown sticky substance hidden inside.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office says concentrated THC was pasted under the flap of this envelope and mailed to the Bob Wiley Detention Facility.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office says concentrated THC was pasted under the flap of this envelope and mailed to the Bob Wiley Detention Facility. Tulare County Sheriff's Office

K9 Deputy Faith was brought in, and found the envelope had drugs, the sheriff’s office said. Testing revealed the hidden substance was concentrated marijuana, also known as wax.

K9 Deputy Faith, the Tulare County sheriff’s dog that sniffed out drugs entering the Bob Wiley Detention Facility.
K9 Deputy Faith, the Tulare County sheriff’s dog that sniffed out drugs entering the Bob Wiley Detention Facility. Courtesy of Teresa Douglass/Tulare County Sheriff's Office

The suspect, 25-year-old Caitlin Wilson, was also arrested at the facility.

A search of Wilson’s vehicle allegedly turned up half a gram of concentrated marijuana, .03 grams of marijuana and a glass smoking device, the sheriff’s office said.

Ashleigh Panoo: 559-441-6010, @AshleighPan

This story was originally published February 5, 2019 at 9:30 PM.

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