LA Jail Deputy Arrested in Drug Investigation – NBC Los Angeles

Internal affairs investigators arrested an L.A. County sheriff’s deputy as part of an investigation into how illegal drugs were being smuggled into the county’s sprawling jail in Castaic, according to officials and multiple law enforcement sources.

According to jail records, Deputy Michael Meiser was charged with an unspecified felony on April 30.

“The department’s Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau has initiated an investigation into allegations against an employee,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement Tuesday.

“The employee is relieved of his duties until the process is completed,” the statement said.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said last week it was aware of the investigation but had not filed criminal charges.

Law enforcement officials said the investigation also examined the possible involvement of other Sheriff’s Department officers and employees at the jail.

Data provided to the I-Team by the Sheriff’s Department shows that drug smuggling and trafficking continue to be a significant problem at the Castaic facility, known as the North County Correctional Facility (NCCF).

Crime reports show that officers have documented more than 70 detections of narcotics other than marijuana this year at NCCF alone.