PORT ALLEN — After three suspected drug overdose deaths at the West Baton Rouge Parish jail this year, officials are facing renewed questions about how drugs are entering the facility, sparking a criminal investigation into the most recent case.
Officials confirmed to UWK that the third criminal investigation this year began after three inmates were found unresponsive on August 13 during what authorities described as “medical emergencies.” Two inmates survived, but 30-year-old Jeremy Paul died. Investigators have since charged another inmate with murder, accusing him of supplying the drugs that killed Paul.
MORE: One arrested after third West Baton Rouge inmate dies this year from drugs
The West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office told UWK that deputies followed all required procedures and that while a criminal investigation is underway, no internal affairs probe is expected.
“Deputies followed policy by making their required rounds and immediate care was provided to the inmates,” Sgt. Landon Groger, public information officer for the WBRSO, told UWK.
Groger said investigators are working to determine how the contraband keeps getting inside.
“The focus of our ongoing investigation is to determine how those substances are entering the detention center and to identify the individuals responsible,” Groger added.
Overdoses under investigation
The August incident is the latest in a series of suspected overdoses at the facility.
In March, 38-year-old Ryan Moreau died while in custody. His cause of death is still pending toxicology results. Toxicology results can take weeks or even months to be completed due to testing backlogs and complex analyses.
Two inmates were later arrested and charged with obstruction of justice in connection with that case.
MORE: Two arrested in connection with death of West Baton Rouge Detention Center inmate
Moreau’s father, Michael, told UWK in March that he received little information about his son’s death and only learned of the arrests through UWK’s reporting.
MORE: Questions linger following death of West Baton Rouge Parish Detention Center inmate
“All they told me from the beginning was they found Ryan unresponsive in his cell and then they got him revived and called the ambulance,” he said. “I just don’t know exactly what went down in that cell. It’s very suspect. The prison hasn’t come forward to say ‘This is what happened’.”
Two days after Moreau’s death, Sheriff Jeff Bergeron ordered a full facility shakedown. Deputies seized contraband, including makeshift tattoo devices, improvised weapons, homemade charging cables, loose tobacco, greeting cards soaked with synthetic cannabinoids, and prescription medications issued by the jail’s medical department.
In May, inmate Unterio Lewis died of “combined drug toxicity,” according to the West Baton Rouge coroner. Specifically, he died from a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl, the coroner added. An internal affairs review linked the death to deputy errors, resulting in two suspensions, one for improper searches and another for failing to conduct required rounds.
New security measures in place
Sheriff Bergeron said that his office has been taking proactive steps to strengthen safety inside the jail. Since January, seven inmates have been arrested on additional drug charges as part of ongoing crackdowns.
“The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office has taken a number of proactive steps to enhance safety and security within the detention center. Several measures have already been implemented, while others are currently in development,” Bergeron told UWK.
Implemented measures include:
- Scanning all inmate mail, with legal mail copied and provided directly to offenders
- Searching trustees before and after their work assignments
- Searching inmates returning from classes, court, or medical visits before reentering dorms
- Conducting mandatory perimeter checks
- Using the Life Check System to verify and document hourly rounds
- Requiring random drug screenings for trustees
- Establishing a Jail Training Coordinator to ensure staff receive continuous training
In-progress initiatives include:
- Assigning a detective specifically to oversee corrections
- Installing a new camera system to boost surveillance
“The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office remains committed to continually reviewing and strengthening our practices to ensure the safety of both offenders and staff,” the sheriff added. “This includes exploring new technologies and implementing additional measures to further enhance security and accountability within the facility.”
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today!
