3 Fall River men charged after investigation into contraband at the Ash Street Jail

Charges were filed Friday at New Bedford District Court as the result of an investigation into the introduction of contraband into the Ash Street Jail, a New Bedford facility of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Sheriff Paul Heroux, the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) began an investigation into Jesus Santana (22 of Fall River) who was an inmate at the Ash Street Jail, after receiving information that he was conspiring with his brother Isaias Santana (18 of Fall River) and Tyler Roberts (32 of Fall River) to have a package of unknown contraband thrown over the wall at the Ash Street Jail.

On Sunday September 21^st, investigators set up surveillance at the Ash Street Jail, and observed Isaias Santana approach the jail on foot and throw a small white object over the outside perimeter wall before running and entering a vehicle operated by Roberts. Sheriff Deputies were able to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle as it fled the area and were able to identify the two occupants in the vehicle, including Isaias Santana who was caught on surveillance video throwing the package over the wall.

Once positively identified, they were released and advised they would be summonsed to court at a later date.

At the time of the incident, there were approximately 20-25 inmates inside of the courtyard area of the Jail during outside recreation.

The actions described above led to the jail being put into an emergency lock down and caused all of the inmates in the yard to be searched which yielded negative results for the package thrown by Isaias Santana.

The following morning, officers at the Ash Street Jail along with maintenance staff were able to search the roof area more thoroughly, and they were able to retrieve a small white package that was stuck in the rain gutter containing paper which tested positive for synthetic marijuana, also known as K2.  

Isaias Santana was charged with: Delivering drugs or articles to prisoners in a correctional institution, and he was charged as well as Conspiracy, along with his brother and Roberts for the incident.

Heroux stated that drugs in the jail cause security issues and often resulting violence among inmates, and health and safety issues for staff who may come into contact with illicit drugs. Since Sheriff Heroux started at the jail in January 2023, the BCSO has increased the number of K9 dogs looking for drugs coming into the jail. Enhanced entrance security procedures and changes to BCSO policies have been underway.

There are five ways that drugs enter a jail or prison

1.       Visitors

2.       Inmates (for example, as a new admission or coming back from court)

3.       Mail

4.       Staff

5.       Over the wall (as happened in this situation)

The individuals will be scheduled for arraignment at a later date. All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.