Lakeland Correctional Facility officers found drugs on the side of a garbage truck outside the facility on Aug. 26
Officers found drugs and other contraband on the side of a Waste Management truck at the Lakeland County Correctional facility, according to Chris Gautz, public information officer for the Michigan Department of Corrections.
After officers discovered the drugs and contraband, they contacted the Michigan State Police, Gautz said. The MSP is currently investigating the incident.
Gautz said officers inspected the truck upon arrival at the facility, noticed the contraband, and removed it. After the removal, officers parked the truck in its usual spot and waited to see if any of the prisoners would approach it. One prisoner did approach the vehicle, and started searching for contraband that the officers had removed.
Officers took the suspect into custody, but believe this individual is not behind the operation.
“We just waited and watched until we saw a prisoner go towards it and start crawling underneath it looking for the package,” Gautz said. “We then apprehended that prisoner and contacted the Michigan State Police and began our investigation.”
The August incident is similar to another case in January, when another incident occurred.
“These are two pretty egregious examples where they were able to secure pretty large packages onto these trash compactors, which allows a lot of things to come in,” Gautz said.
Officers apprehended the suspect after both incidents.
Mia Jankowiak, Waste Management area communications manager, said the company is monitoring the situation.
“WM is aware of this incident and is supporting the Michigan State Police in their investigation,” Jankowiak said.
In an interview with WTVB, Gautz said the Lakeland Correctional Facility does not intend to replace Waste Management as their provider.
“In both cases, we believe that that individual was just hired by another prisoner to retrieve the material and didn’t even really know what it was. They were just told, ‘Hey, go over here at this time and you know, pick up something and then bring it back to me,’” Gautz said.
The Lakeland Correctional Facility is a level two facility with a double fence, electronic detection systems, and razor wire, according to Michigan.gov. Gautz said the prison is combatting contraband and drugs daily.
The MSP and corrections officers are attempting to determine where these trucks were and who contacted them prior to their arrival at the facility, according to Gautz.
“There’s a lot of money to be made from criminals taking part in this,” Gautz said.