(COLUMBUS) – For the second time officers found an inmate attempting to smuggle drugs into the Bartholomew County jail.
Joanna Gearhart, photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department
On Friday, the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team and Bartholomew County Jail Officers suspected that 34-year-old Joanna Gearhart, of Columbus, was using a body cavity to conceal illegal narcotics while incarcerated.
A search warrant was obtained and officers found multiple narcotic related items including meth, suboxone, and marijuana.
Gearhart is facing new charges drug charges and trafficking with an inmate.
Kristen Hunter, photo courtesy of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.
Officers received a tip that 34-year-old Kristen Hunter was going to try to smuggle drugs into the jail after she received a 30-day sentence.
Authorities obtained a search warrant and she was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where hospital officials found two and a half grams of heroin, suboxone pills, two other unidentified pills and two unopened packs of cigarettes hidden in a “body cavity”.
Photo courtesy of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.
She now is facing three additional charges.
Sheriff Matt Myers says bringing drugs into the jail is not only a crime, but it is extremely dangerous and puts the safety of corrections officers, staff, inmates and members of our community at risk. Sheriff Myers says he is considering purchasing a body scanner that could detect attempts of smuggling drugs into the jail.
Photo courtesy of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.
