CLEVELAND — A 31-year-old corrections officer at the Cuyahoga County jail was taken into custody and booked into the Geauga County Jail early Tuesday morning in connection with an investigation into drug trafficking.
According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office, sheriff's deputies arrested the jailer, Quiana Thompson, and she is charged with aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony.
Court records show that detectives, using jailhouse phone calls, learned the 31-year-old was allegedly getting paid to smuggle drugs into the jail.
Detectives conducting surveillance watched as Thompson met up with the mother of an inmate. Court records state that the woman gave Thompson an envelope of drugs to deliver to her son the next time she worked, but that didn't happen.
Instead, detectives said they stopped Thompson and found drugs in her car. Prosecutor's say it was meth that detectives seized.
Following the arrest, the jailer was taken to the Geauga County Jail after booking to be housed. She's being held in lieu of a $250,000 bond.
County records show that the jailer has worked at the Cuyahoga County jail for just over three years.
According to the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, which is the union representing corrections officers, the jailer has been placed on paid administrative leave by Cuyahoga County.
"My understanding is this particular C.O. has worked there for three or four years. I was unaware of her name, which would imply she doesn't find herself in any kind of disciplinary issues or anything like that," Adam Chaloupka with the OPBA, said.
He said this type of case gives jailers a black eye, calling it one of the worst things that can happen—saying that all corrections officers should know better.
Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel issued the following statement regarding the matter:
“The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department takes these matters extremely seriously, having zero tolerance for any employee who violates the law or compromises the integrity of the Corrections Center. We are committed to providing a healthy, safe, drug-free environment for all residents, employees, and visitors of the facility.”
