2 arrested in drug-smuggling probe

BENTONVILLE — At least two people have been arrested in connection with smuggling drugs into the Benton County jail, according to court documents.

Alexis Hernandez of Fayetteville was arrested Monday in connection with furnishing prohibited articles. He was being held Thursday in the Benton County jail on a $15,000 bond.

Dirk Jackson, who is free on $3,500 bond, was arrested last month in connection with the same charge.

Prosecutors have not filed any formal charges against the two men.

The investigation started in November after several inmates within the work detail and trusty pod tested positive for more than one narcotic after a medical urine drug screening was conducted throughout the two pods, according to the probable cause affidavit in Jackson’s case.

Two Benton County sheriff’s detectives interviewed inmates being held in the pods, according to the affidavit.

One work detail inmate, who had been incarcerated for 31 days, claimed he did not know how he tested positive for methamphetamine and said someone put something in his drink without his knowledge, the affidavit states.

A second inmate reported he overheard a phone conversation in which someone was told to make a drop at the Rogers Humane Society where the inmates were working, according to the affidavit.

He reported he tested positive for meth because he was given the drug and had snorted it, according to the affidavit.

Random drug testing has been implemented and the jail has increased the number of random searches, Jenkins said.