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Two men, including a former inmate, were arrested earlier this week for attempting to introduce contraband into California State Prison, Sacramento in Folsom.
On Sunday, Aug. 28, the Investigative Services Unit at the prison arrested two men suspected of delivering contraband to inmates inside the facility, said Sgt. Tony Quinn, public information officer at California State Prison, Sacramento.
Harley Schroeder, 29, a former inmate, was allegedly attempting to deliver contraband inside the prison when he was arrested by prison officials at 12:10 a.m.
Prison officials arrested Schroeder and Robert Hanna, 28, the driver of the vehicle, and transported both men to the Folsom Police Department, Quinn said.
Schroeder and Hanna were both booked into Sacramento County Jail.
Quinn said Schroeder was seen exiting a car near the prison and was then spotting running and climbing a dirt embankment to get into prison property. Schroeder then allegedly scaled a barbed-wire perimeter security fence, Quinn said.
“These guys are trying to sneak onto prison grounds to transfer these substances,” Quinn said.
Prison correctional officers requested the assistance of Folsom Police Department officers in the arrest.
“We were asked to stop the driver (Hanna) in a marked patrol car,” said Sgt. Jason Browning, Folsom Police Department public information officer. “We detained him on behalf of the prison correctional officers.”
Prison staff located and detained Schroeder and conducted a search of the bag he was allegedly attempting to deliver.
Inside the bag prison officials found approximately nine cell phones, methamphetamines, black tar heroin, marijuana, cell phone chargers, Micro SD memory cards, three lighters, smoking papers, and a glass pipe normally used for inhaling controlled substances.
The items found in the bag, and the method by which the suspects were attempting to gain access to the prison, is not uncommon, Quinn said.
“This happens more than suspected,” Quinn said. “But we have been working proactively to control it. We now have more officers patrolling the prison grounds frequently throughout the night.”
Quinn said there was no connection that he is aware of between this incident and Marvin L. Ussrey, the man who broke onto prison grounds on Aug. 11.
Prison officials said there has been a rise in the risks civilians, especially former inmates, will take to bring contraband into correctional facilities.
“They are not breaking into the prison, they are transferring contraband onto the facility,” Browning said. “These are coordinated acts between the individuals and the inmates.”
Still Browning said it is important for surrounding residents to be proactive if suspicious behavior is noticed.
“If you see a suspicious act like vehicles stopped along the roadway or someone entering the prison ground, contact us immediately,” Browning said.
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