Six arrested following prison shakedown

By Kapono Dowson
Advertiser Staff Writer

The three-day shakedown at O'ahu Community Correctional Center led to the arrest of six inmates and the recovery of several stashes of crystal methamphetamine and an assortment of prison contraband, prison officials said yesterday.

The six were arrested on suspicion of having prison contraband, promoting dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia, said Ed Howard, supervising narcotics investigator with the Department of Public Safety.

He said they expect to make two more arrests.

"We were pleasantly surprised at how little we found this time" OCCC Warden Clayton Frank said. He said in the last shakedown in October authorities found more weapons and drugs.

Dogs helped officers discovered several stashes of methamphetamine.

One packet contained $300 prison value or $100 street value, Howard said. The largest stash filled more than a third of an 8 fluid ounce medicine bottle, estimated by officers to be worth more than a $1,000.

Officers discovered prison contraband that included wires and razor blades, braided ropes and makeshift radios, an old handcuff key, as well as over the counter drugs.

Some sharp instruments and a pair of homemade dice also were found. Officers also found a passport, checkbook, charge cards and a car key belonging to a prisoner who only had a short time left, Frank said.

Frank said he decided on the shakedown because "there had been fights and assaults occurring." He said because the facility is crowded, tensions run high.

The six arrested are being housed in separate holding unit, pending investigation.

Correction: A packet of crystal methamphetamine has a value of $300 in prison but would have a street value of $100, according to prison officials. Incorrect figures were given in a previous version of this story.

Advertiser staff writer Karen Blakeman contributed to this report.