Sheriff: Woman Tossing Drugs Over Wall at New Bedford’s Ash Street Jail

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux says the girlfriend of an inmate at the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford is now facing charges for allegedly throwing drugs to her boyfriend over the jail wall.

Heroux said that over the past week, drugs were thrown over the outer perimeter wall of the jail on two separate occasions. He said in once instance, security staff “found a package in the courtyard after it had just been thrown over the wall which was discovered to contain 15 suboxone strips.”

The next day, crews searched the roof of the jail for any contraband that might have been tossed but didn’t land. Heroux said another package was discovered containing 69 suboxone strips and 15 grams of crack cocaine.

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After an investigation, it was determined that Brittany Hanley, girlfriend of an inmate at the Ash Street Jail, had allegedly been the person who previously threw the drugs over the wall and Heroux said she was conspiring with him to do it again on March 18.

He said that through surveillance, Hanley was observed “circling the jail in a rented motor vehicle” and was recorded on a phone call with the inmate as she did this “looking for the most opportune time and location to throw the package,” Heroux said.

“After observing her Ms. Hanley drive the wrong way down a one way street, circle the block and then come back to the side of the Ash Street Jail, investigators decided to conduct a traffic stop on Ms. Hanley’s motor vehicle to not give her the opportunity to throw the contraband over the wall,” Heroux said.

Heroux said Hanley admitted to the plan when speaking with the investigators.

“Ms. Hanley willingly told us that she purchased 40 suboxone strips and was intending on throwing them over the wall,” he said. “A search of her person found the 40 aforementioned suboxone strips along with an additional eight and a half grams of suspected fentanyl that she disclosed that she didn’t tell us about because she was nervous, but also intended to throw over the wall.”

A search of her vehicle turned up an additional half gram of fentanyl, Heroux said.

Hanley was placed into custody and charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance (one count for suboxone, one count for suspected fentanyl), attempting to commit a crime and conspiracy. She was arraigned today in New Bedford District Court.

“There are five different ways that drugs and contraband enter a jail,” Heroux said. “Employees, visitors, inmates entering from the street or returning from court, via mail, and by throwing items over the jail walls.”