Washington jail officials intercept donated melon filled with tobacco, drugs

Wash. jail officials intercept melon full of drugs

WENATCHEE, Wash. — The donated cantaloupe that arrived at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center looked more like a pumpkin. Jail Administrator Phil Stanley said there was a noticeable cut around the top. And jail officers who intercepted the melon Monday before it reached inmates found tobacco and a baggie full of oxycodone pills stuffed inside.

Stanley said the jail routinely uses surplus food from local grocery stores and contraband has come in with food in the past. In this case, a surveillance camera at the Plaza Super Jet had showed two young women dropping off a shopping bag containing the melon. It was placed with surplus food that was later picked up by jail staffers. Plaza Super Jet workers called and alerted the jail after they looked at the video.

Wenatchee police spokeswoman Cherie Smith said an investigation is continuing.

Information from: The Wenatchee World, www.wenatcheeworld.com