ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — In an unfolding investigation, Ross County Jail authorities are exploring how fentanyl found its way into the facility.
Deputies, according to recent reports, were informed about a potential illegal conveyance of drugs into the Ross County Jail at 28 N. Paint Street.
The information originated from an inmate who claimed her cellmate in Cell C-01 had brought in fentanyl and suboxone strips. Allegedly concerned about her sobriety, the inmate approached one of the deputies, pointing to the suspicious content.
Upon reviewing body scan images from the previous day, deputies stated in their report that they observed what appeared to be a foreign item in the vaginal area of an inmate. Deputies, the report stated, ordered a rescan and relocated all females from C-Pod to facilitate a search of the housing unit.
During the search, one inmate reportedly displayed symptoms of a drug overdose. The inmate was escorted to booking, administered one 4 mg dose of Narcan by the attending nurse. A decision was made to rescan, still indicating a concealed object.
During a search of the housing unit, a bag with an unknown white powder, two unknown pills, and strips on a mattress were located. A purple magazine with apparent residue was also seized as evidence.
Further interviews with inmates revealed varying accounts of the events, with some confirming the presence of suspected drugs in the cell. The investigation remains ongoing.
Over the years, The Guardian has reported on the numerous issues plaguing the jail. From excessive force used by corrections officers to the sheer number of deaths within the facility, this is just the latest incident in a long litany of issues.