The wife of a Westchester County Jail inmate has been arrested, accused of passing on the suspected synthetic marijuana that sickened inmates in the last two weeks, officials said.
Ebony Strange, 32, of White Plains, was arrested at her home Wednesday night and charged with misdemeanor second-degree promoting prison contraband after an investigation consisting of security camera video, visitor logs, and interviews with inmates, visitors and staff.
Officials suspect Strange passed the substance to her husband, Deron Strange, during a July 19 visit.
The inmate illnesses began July 12, when three prisoners became sick at separate times during the day. On July 19, an additional six prisoners got sick, and then four more prisoners became sick on July 20.
All were treated at local hospitals after showing signs of drug use or drug overdose and were returned to the jail the same day. It's not clear how many of the sickened inmates consumed the substance Strange brought into the jail.
Authorities believe the inmates may have been smoking the synthetic marijuana, though they are awaiting lab results to confirm the cause of the apparent overdoses. The charge against Strange could be upgraded depending on the results of those lab results.
Two inmates among the 13 who were hospitalized face charges of promoting contraband in connection with the case. Deron Strange, who was in jail on an assault charge, had the remains of a hand-rolled cigarette, according to authorities, and James Graziano, being held on a parole violation, had a plastic bottle that was altered into a pipe.
Local
Five more inmates were charged with promoting prison contraband for having small amounts of drugs or drug paraphernalia.
Calls to Legal Aid, which provides legal representation to poor people including inmates, were not immediately returned.
Jail officials said earlier in the week they suspected the drugs were smuggled in by visitors and passed to inmates during so-called contact visits.
"At the beginning and end of the visit he can embrace, have a brief kiss, pick up a baby, so that's an avenue we are exporing," said Westchester County Corrections Deputy Commissioner Justin Pruyme.
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said he's reconsidering whether inmates should be allowed to hug family and friends during the twice-weekly contact visits. He said he's talking to state correction officials about making a change.
"Our goal is zero tolerance because these incidents put everyone at risk," he said.
Astorino ordered a sweep of the 240-cell facility Monday night; four inmates were found to be in possession of drugs, authorities said.
The jail has about 1,100 inmates. All of the apparent overdose patients were either listed in stable condition Tuesday or had been returned to the jail. Investigators are reviewing video and visitor records.
