Several female inmates at the Montezuma County jail were questioned on Mother’s Day whether they had been getting high inside the 104-bed facility.
According to a Montezuma County Sheriff’s report, five female inmates were given urine tests on Sunday, May 10, and four tested positive for meth use. Officials said that inmate Izabel Zaragoza, 32, initially introduced the contraband into the jail after she was arrested on April 28.
A Cortez Police Department K-9 unit found no illegal substances inside the E Pod, where women are housed.
After testing positive for drugs, Ana Sena, 32, advised jailors that Zaragoza had hid meth in a tube of toothpaste, then gave the illegal substance to her between May 7 and May 8. Sena was arrested on May 5.
Inmate Mishaunna Wooten, 35, who also tested positive, told authorities that Zaragoza flushed the drugs down the toilet. Jailed since May 5, Wooten claimed she used drugs before to being jailed.
Incarcerated since Feb. 4, Keaeira Cuthair, 20, did admit to using drugs inside the jail.
Zaragoza opted to remain silent when questioned.
On April 30, inmate Jessica Gee, 29, reported that she found a meth pipe near the toilet inside the female pod. She was no longer in custody as of Sunday.
On April 29, detention staff reported that a small pink baggy containing heroin was discovered inside the suspect’s intake facility bathroom.
According to the sheriff’s report, no charges were filed regarding the contraband. The case was turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for possible filing of charges.
