JAIL OFFICER ARRESTED IN DRUG SMUGGLING

Arpaio: Woman Gave Inmate Substances

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is in the middle of an
investigation surrounding a detention officer arrested for delivering
drugs to an inmate at the Fourth Avenue Jail.

Officer Michele Samaniego, 27, of Glendale, was caught taking a needle
and syringe along with substances believed to be marijuana and
methamphetamine to the jail, authorities said.

Through information gathered by the sheriff's intelligence unit,
deputies learned that the six-year employee was bringing drugs to
work, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said.

When Samaniego arrived at work Monday morning, drug-sniffing dogs
indicated that she had narcotics in her purse, Arpaio said. She was
booked on suspicion of promoting prison contraband, possession of
dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Arpaio expressed his disappointment in the officer's actions. "Our
officers have a tough job in our jail system," he said. "But it's
always sad when you find someone in law enforcement that violates
trust." The sheriff's office is working to determine how long she had
been taking drugs to the jail as well as if any other employees or
inmates were involved, Arpaio said.

Samaniego isn't talking to authorities and asked for a lawyer
immediately after arrest, Arpaio said. He said she had at least 200
phone conversations with the inmate.

On Monday, the sheriff's office served a search warrant at the
Glendale home where she lived with a roommate, who has also been
arrested on related drug conspiracy charges.

Arpaio said her roommate, whom he wouldn't identify, might also have a
connection to an inmate at the jail.

"This is just the beginning of our investigation," he said. "We do run
a jail and I don't like drugs coming into jail."