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Texas man suspected of supplying jail contraband

The inmate said a detention officer would meet with Garnica to pickup the items, and he gave him the officer’s cellphone number

Times Record News

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — A 24-year old Wichita Falls man is suspected of cooperating with a Wichita County Jail employee and other inmates in an attempt to bring drugs inside the facility. Alonso Garnica, address listed in the 500 block of Kemp Boulevard, was charged with prohibited substance in correctional facility. Garnica’s bond was set at $50,000.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit: On May 16, an inmate at the county jail called Garnica from a facility pay phone. The conversation was recorded and later listened to by a county district attorney investigator.

The inmate was heard asking Garnica if he had “any green leaf?”. The inmate told Garnica he wanted a half ounce and a pack of cigarettes.

The inmate said a detention officer would meet with Garnica to pickup the items, and he gave him the officer’s cellphone number. The next day, jail administers were notified and a search of all employees working at the time was conducted.

One officer was found to be in possession of a pocket knife and two cellphones, all of which were against policy to have inside the facility. The officer was told to take the items back to his car.

The same officer reportedly later made a comment to another employee that the investigators had not found the drugs he had in a cologne bottle.

The officer was interviewed by investigators and said he was approached by an inmate asking how much it would cost to bring the drugs into the jail. The officer agreed to do it for $20.

The officer later met up with a man he identified as Garnica to pick up the drugs, with instructions to bring them back to the inmate.

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