Crime & Safety
Deputies Arrest Man Suspected Of Smuggling Narcotics To Relative In Murrieta Jail: Sheriff
The suspect was booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
MURRIETA, CA — A 23-year-old man suspected of smuggling narcotics to his relative at a Riverside County jail in Murrieta was arrested Friday morning on suspicion of sending controlled substances via the mail, as well as conspiracy, authorities said.
Andrew Keith Bowman of Los Angeles was taken into custody without incident after a warrant was served by sheriff's deputies at his residence in the 5800 block of Overhill Drive, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Bowman was booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. Bail information was not immediately available.
Authorities said personnel in the Corrections Investigations Bureau became aware of illicit substances reaching the Murrieta jail through the U.S. Postal Service.
Additional investigation led to the identification of the alleged sender Andrew Bowman, and the alleged recipient, 29-year-old Daniel Bowman of Los Angeles. The men are possibly siblings. Sheriff's officials would only say they're related.
Authorities said sufficient evidence was gathered to obtain and serve a search warrant at Andrew Bowman's home, where "counterfeit bills, drug paraphernalia, two unregistered firearms and evidence linking Bowman to the smuggling of narcotics into the jail" were seized.
The suspect was arrested on the spot.
Daniel Bowman was convicted of unspecified offenses and transferred to the custody of the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation earlier this year, according to the sheriff's department.
Authorities said the system-wide "Jailhouse Mail" scanning policy helped with their investigation, which was enacted "to combat the supply of narcotics into our jail system."
Background information on Andrew and Daniel Bowman wasn't provided.
City News Service contributed to this report.
