CALDWELL, Idaho — Canyon County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three people after uncovering an attempt to smuggle methamphetamine into the Dale Haile Detention Center’s women’s jail, authorities said.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, investigators received information that drugs were expected to be brought into the jail around Nov. 19. Deputies set up surveillance near the detention center’s laundry facility, where they observed 41-year-old Joshua Taylor place a bag in a concealed area outside the building.
Deputies retrieved the bag, which contained 4.5 grams of methamphetamine, and replaced it with a decoy. Shortly afterward, inmates Maria Calderon, 38, and Alexandra Crawford, 27, were seen retrieving the bag while assigned to laundry detail duties.
Taylor was later arrested during a traffic stop. Authorities said he attempted to hide another bag of methamphetamine inside the patrol vehicle while being transported to jail.
Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue praised deputies for their investigative work while also pointing to longstanding concerns with the detention center’s infrastructure.
“This incident highlights how the outdated design of our jail continues to put safety and security at risk,” Donahue said. “Our deputies did outstanding work stopping this crime, but no level of vigilance can fully offset the vulnerabilities of this facility. This case underscores the urgent need for upgraded infrastructure.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
