Pubdate: Wed, 07 Feb 2007
Source: Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (OH)
Copyright: 2007 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3143
Author: Carl Burnett Jr.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

SECOND FAIRFIELD CO. INMATE TREATED FOR HEROIN USE

LANCASTER - The second inmate in one week was treated for using 
heroin in the Fairfield County Jail.

Marilyn L. Meadows, 54, of Lancaster, was taken by deputies to 
Fairfield Medical Center early Saturday morning. She since has been 
returned to the jail on Wheeling Street.

Officers only discovered a male inmate high on heroin a week ago 
today. He apparently used the drug while in jail. Fairfield County 
Sheriff Dave Phalen has increased the number of strip searches and 
will bring drug-sniffing dogs into the jail more often. He also is 
promising to do more random searches of the dorms and cells.

"Our hands are tied on the things we can do," Phalen said. "We can't 
do body cavity searches unless we have probable cause and a judge has 
signed a search warrant and a medical professional must do it."

Fairfield County Sheriff's jailers were told Meadows and another 
inmate were using heroin in the women's bathroom.

Deputies talked to Meadows, who appeared to be under the influence of 
drugs. She was taken to FMC shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday and 
returned to jail after treatment.

The females in the dorm were strip-searched, and the female dorm was 
searched after the incident. Deputies said they found no drugs.

Meadows told deputies she ate a black substance she said was provided 
to her by another inmate.

The other inmate denied providing the heroin to Meadows. But the 
second inmate admitted to deputies she got high on heroin before 
turning herself in Friday.

Meadows remains in jail, but the other inmate has been released. 
Meadows entered the jail Jan. 16 after she was convicted of theft. 
She was sentenced to 150 days in jail.

Neither inmate has been charged with crimes relating to the incident 
at the jail.

Chad Kerens, 28, of Lancaster, was taken Jan. 30 to Fairfield Medical 
Center for treatment after he overdosed on heroin.

County deputies found him unconscious in a television room around 
8:20 p.m. Jan. 30.

Lancaster medics transported him to the hospital. Inmates told 
deputies Kerens overdosed on heroin, according to an incident report.

Kerens was returned to the jail after receiving treatment. He has 
been in jail since Nov. 29. Kerens is serving time for failure to 
appear on a driving under suspension charge.

Officers searched the dorms Jan. 30 and found two small glass tubes 
with brownish residue inside them. One tube was found in the showers, 
and the other one was in Kerens' property.

Phalen said there were no reported incidents involving drugs in jail 
in 2006, while only three incidents involving jail inmates were 
reported in 2005.

Phalen said his office has expanded its investigation to cover both 
incidents. He said anyone caught bringing drugs into the jail will be 
prosecuted. Phalen said his office will look into buying a new X-ray 
chair that detects anything hidden in body cavities once a person 
sits on the chair.

"It costs $5,000 and could help us a great deal in our searches," Phalen said.

Inmates in the county jail include people who have been arrested for 
traffic offenses and people serving time for conviction of crimes.

Phalen said the jailers routinely conduct surprise searches in the 
dorms to remove any contraband.

Before the recent incidents, officers reviewed prior criminal 
histories of people admitted to the jail before conducting strip 
searches. People serving time following a conviction also would be 
strip searched

Phalen plans to hold an in-service training on the procedures for and 
how to conduct strip searches.

"It is very hard to keep drugs out a jail," Phalen said. "We have to 
balance the rights of the individuals with security of jail."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman