JAIL VISITOR CAUGHT TRYING TO SMUGGLE DRUGS / WEAPONS INTO JAIL
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938 
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Direct: (915) 538-2223
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Friday, January 16, 2009 12:55 PM
WHO: EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (DETENTION DIVISION)
WHAT: JAIL VISITOR CAUGHT TRYING TO SMUGGLE DRUGS/WEAPONS INTO JAIL
WHEN: Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 5:00 PM
WHERE: 601 E. Overland El Paso, Texas 79901 (EPCDF)
WHY: ARREST MADE
BACKGROUND:
EL PASO, TEXAS- Late Thursday afternoon 01-15-09 at about 5:00 PM, Jail personnel caught a visitor trying to smuggle various drugs and weapons into the jail which were concealed in an oxygen canister.
Apparently a 41 year-old woman was trying to drop off an Oxygen Concentrator and a CPAP machine for an inmate (husband) incarcerated at the facility. These machines are solely used for treating upper respiratory problems. Medical staff began inspecting all the parts on the machines it was found that there missing items. Further inspection revealed the contraband to be hidden within the machine.
The contraband consisted of about 200 various pain pills/barbiturates, 10 utility blades, one Buck knife, along with other miscellaneous contraband.
Sheriff Deputies were summoned to the scene and took custody of the 41 year-old woman.
The case was turned over to Sheriff's Detectives who arrested & charged 41 year-old Bernadette Valenzuela with 3 counts of Prohibited Substances & Items in a Correctional Facility - $15,000 BOND.
ARRESTED:
BERNADETTE VALENZUELA (41)
CHARGES: 3 counts of PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES & ITEMS IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY - $15,000 BOND.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.