PI Arrested After Drugs Found in Jail Paperwork Twice
🤖 AI Generated ImageA private investigator has been arrested after authorities say narcotics were found hidden in documents he brought into a Southern California jail, not once but twice.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department says the pattern was caught by the same detection method both times: a trained narcotics canine.
What Happened at West Valley Detention Center
Naum Ware, 67, of Ontario, was arrested June 23 after arriving at West Valley Detention Center with paperwork to visit several inmates, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
The arrest traces back to an earlier incident on June 9, when detention center staff learned Ware had arrived with supplies for a self-represented, or "pro per," inmate.
Among those materials were envelopes that appeared to have been coated with an unidentified substance, investigators said.
📰 Related: 13 Arrested in Hernando County Sex Offender Sweep
How the First Discovery Was Confirmed
A sheriff's narcotics detection canine inspected the suspicious envelopes during the June 9 incident and alerted to the presence of drugs.
The materials were seized and sent to the Sheriff's Scientific Investigation Division, where a criminalist tested one of the envelopes and confirmed it was positive for narcotics, according to the Sheriff's Department.
That result didn't lead to an immediate arrest. Instead, it set up a second test two weeks later that would determine whether the first incident was an isolated lapse or a pattern.
📰 Related: Florida Man Charged After Teen Found Hidden in Dryer
The Second Visit That Changed Everything
On June 23, Ware returned to the jail carrying additional paperwork for several inmates.
A narcotics detection canine was deployed again to inspect the new materials, and again alerted to the presence of narcotics, the Sheriff's Department said.
Two separate visits, two separate canine alerts, and one confirmed lab result is what moved this from a single suspicious incident into an arrest. Authorities seized the documents from the second visit and took Ware into custody on suspicion of violating California Penal Code 4573(a), which prohibits bringing controlled substances into a jail or prison.
📰 Related: School Proctor Arrested in Child Sex Abuse Material Case
What Investigators Haven't Said Yet
The Sheriff's Department has not detailed which specific narcotic was identified in the lab testing, nor has it said whether the inmates connected to either visit are facing any additional scrutiny as a result.
It's also not yet clear whether Ware was acting alone or whether the substance was introduced into the paperwork before it reached him, a distinction that will likely shape how the case against him develops.
Investigators describe the case as ongoing, and are continuing to ask the public for information through the department's tip lines.
Key Takeaways
- Naum Ware, 67, of Ontario, was arrested on June 23 after drugs were allegedly found in jail paperwork for a second time.
- The first incident occurred on June 9, when a narcotics detection canine alerted to envelopes Ware brought for a self-represented inmate.
- A criminalist with the Sheriff's Scientific Investigation Division confirmed one envelope tested positive for narcotics.
- A second canine alert on June 23 led to Ware's arrest on suspicion of violating California Penal Code 4573(a).
- The investigation remains ongoing, with the Sheriff's Department asking the public for tips.
Sources
Also Read
You might also like
World News Correspondent
Rachel Hayes reports on international affairs, geopolitics, and breaking world news. Based in London, she covers stories shaping the UK and global political landscape.
