What's his first name? Rean.
Sean White.
 So Shawn White's a detention
officer. They're he they're walking him
out to his car. By the time they get to
the car, uh we the our SD officer starts
to basically tell him, "Hey, let me see
your wallet. We'll start with their
wallet. We'll start going through the
vehicle search. At that point, he starts
becoming defensive, non-compliant, says,
"Nope, I refuse. I you know, there's no
reason to search my car." And he
basically just gets his car and splits.
So, as he's walking back from So, the
officer the car is parked right here.
I'll show it to you in a sec.
In that car, the officer also car pulled
with our lieutenant
Cohen Mansion.
 The same one that was
also part of
 Same. Yeah. Okay.
 So,
um, as the officer's walking back after
he splits, he's walking over here and he
sees a package on the ground, picks it
up,
 and where's it at?
Uh,
ends up turning out to be
methamphetamines. They go back, test it,
test positive. They go back, start
reviewing the tape. And the tape, you'll
see here, but the lieutenant gets out of
the car when he's walking right here. He
pulls out of his pocket and drops on the
ground
 while they're walking him out to
his car to do the search.
 No, before the
search even happened.
 Huh.
 So, backing
up now. You see the car pulls up. They
get officer white. He stays in the car.
Con gets out first, right?
 Yes, sir.
 The
lieutenant gets out. He starts walking.
When he gets right here, for whatever
reason, you see him put his hand in his
pocket and it come out and then you see
a package on the ground. He keeps
walking. The package stays there in
camera sight the whole time. So then
everything else is transpiring about
maybe 15 minutes later. They end up
about right here, the lieutenant, the
STU staff, and you see him go and he
pick he sees on the ground, picks it up.
So that's basically
 So that's when they
came back, review camera, and that's
when they open.
 Okay.
 So um any any
chance that he knew it was going to go
down?
 No. because this was all
spontaneous. This he barely had
instruction. They didn't we didn't even
they just barely got directed from from
Rita to do the search. Kind of a a last
minute type thing.
 Okay.
 The only thing
we can think of cuz I wondered the same
thing. Why
 Yeah.
 Would you drop it
there? Why wouldn't you drop it over
here somewhere in between the cars?
Exactly.
 So, and we'll have to you guys
have to go back and look at the tape
look at the cameras over here to see if
Yeah.
 He saw something that spooked him.
Kind
 of. Unless
 one of our STIU vehicles
uh he knows drives a rather bright car
and that's what we're kind of pointing
at.
 Yeah.
So, do you guys always like you normally
work during the daytime or is it
 Yeah,
we normally work.
 So, so when employees
come in and see your vehicle, they're
like something's going down.
 That's when
they start.
There's that chance.
 Yes, sir.
 Okay.
Here's the vehicle.
 Okay.
the Mustang
and you'll see it right here.
So, the LT is on the That's him.
 This is
This is Lieutenant.
 Okay.
 Now, you'll
watch right about right here. You're
going to see
more forward
right here.
Just Okay.
And then um
[ __ ]
 Wait, so he that was who was that
was the lieutenant?
 That was the
lieutenant that just got out and walked
over.
Huh.
And the Sean White, that's the other guy
in the car.
 Yeah.
 So it's lieutenant
that you're
 Yeah.
What's his name?
 Cohen Man.
C O H E N.
And the man was m a n g i n.
Has anybody spoken with Sean?
 No, cuz he
left. We haven't even got a whole I just
told him.
 He refused to do the research.
Grab his car and give up.
 So, it sounds
like that maybe we're working together a
little bit.
 So, I mean, you can still
see it sitting there.
 Yeah.
straight past.
How much time passes from here? I was
going to say it looks like he looked at
how much time passes from this to when
you guys walk them out.
 I would say
probably about 20 to 25 minutes.
 Oh, it
was that much time yesterday.
 What time
was this at?
 This is at uh 5:58.
 So, it
was about 5:55 or so when he walked in.
What did you say? 556 about the time you
saw him drop it. So yeah, it's about 25
minutes cuz uh I found the package at
about approximately 6:23
and um you have video of the entire time
that package is still on the ground.
Yeah. Yeah. That camera is sat right
there at that.
 So it'll stay it'll stay
like that just constantly watching that
bag until he picks it up.
 So you could
burn um a copy of that.
 I actually
did burn.
 Sweet. So the so Rita's going
to serve
uh and maybe you guys do this together,
but she's going to serve him an
adisement letter. He's being placed
under investigation and then she's also
going to serve him notice uh we're
placing them on administrative leave.
Okay.
 Um you don't you don't normally
have to give them union representation
for that, right? Yeah.
 Okay.
 And then
 so
they're both gone now.
 They're both No,
just one still here.
Okay. Um, in
 fact, he's right. We're
punching him right here.
 So, he has no
clue what's going down.
 I think he if
he's watching that the camera's in
there.
 I mean, he's probably really
nervous right now
cuz this is him right here.
Do you have a photo of him? Like his
face?
Um, trying to see if I recognize him at
all. I don't remember him. Does he
usually work in the master control?
 He
works. You've probably seen him. Yeah,
you've probably seen a rookie.
Okay. Um,
yeah.
 Um, would it be possible for me to
watch the video of the full um, S?
Because just basically because what it
could amount to me is
um, if I can determine that, you know,
obviously I saw her drop out his pocket,
he's still tested positive for meth. If
nobody else that package stays there the
entire time, then he could be u
potentially arrested for the possession.
Yeah. now. And I don't know if um
and that's that's where I'm I need to
figure out because if it gets to the
point where an arrest is essential
rather than just citing him, then I need
to make a decision on whether I have him
transport because I don't want him I
really don't want him in here.
 Ah yeah,
unless I absolutely have to. The only
reason I would keep him is to try to
call a judge and get him arraigned right
away in the morning to get him out.
But um
 the only thing so um because
we've handled many of these cases
similar to this u like in the casinos
where um somebody will drop you know
whether it's a wallet or the drugs or
something and they'll surveillance just
because they just what they do they'll
review video and watch you know who
dropped it and you know say they use a
players club card or something like that
they'll ID the person they're still
there you know they'll detain them and
then they'll call us and I mean it's a
felony so It's like uh it's um
if we don't arrest on it um the only
thing I could do would be contact
because of the in because of the
situation of him being housed here would
be to contact the um district attorney's
office and see if they'd be willing to
um allow us to summon him because it's a
nonviolent crime. Um, and that way he'd
be released tonight and
um, you wouldn't have to worry about him
being here. But it's really and it's
kind of up to my lieutenant, too. I'll
I'll have to brief him.
 I mean, that's
and I'm not I don't have an opinion on
either way. I I just um Cohen has he's
worked at the penitentiary. He's been
here. He's worked at Valencia County.
So, I just and I really don't care about
those pills, but I really don't I just
don't feel comfortable putting him in
custody here.
 Sure.
 Um
 No, I understand.
It could be it I don't want the staff,
you know, focusing on that and not on
the job.
 Yeah.
 It's going to create a
lot of
 It's going to It's going to
create a big deal.
 Yeah. Um
and I don't Yeah,
 cuz that's that's
going to be
 And he's a lieutenant. We're
not talking about just a random officer.
Exactly. Um
I mean if you I always I always try to
play things back into you know my shoes
if if uh if it were me if I put myself
in the lieutenant shoes and I did the
same thing that you know he allegedly
did.
You know I myself would expected would
would expect myself to be arrested.
Yeah. I you know what I mean? I don't I
don't have a purpose either of the way.
Yeah. I just have to make the if it goes
that route, I just have to make the
decision if I'm going to leave them here
or if I'm going to set up a transport
team and
 okay,
 we're going to take him
somewhere else to get booked in. So,
where was your vehicle parked in? Was it
like visible from
 my vehicle? Yes, it
was visible. Um,
 is this still the same
spot you're in?
 No, I actually moved it
a little bit back earlier to the dogs,
but uh uh I mean it was visible. It was
my vehicle. Is it What kind of vehicle
is it?
 It's a It's an Interceptor. A
Ford Interceptor.
 The sailing on it or
Yeah. K9.
 So they know
 Oh, yeah. They
know which one.
 Yeah.
 Would have been
invisible from him walking there.
 Oh,
yeah.
 Or he would have driven around it.
They they had to have Joe passed it.
Okay.
Um do you have can you print off um
their data sheets for me if you have for
their their file?
 Give me another read.
Do we have any
 for for both the
passenger and the driver?
 We don't have
that in the morning or anything like
that.
 Once Dian gets in the morning, I
can have a print that stop to you.
 But
um I'm sure he he can give you that
information when you talk to him.
 Yeah.
Um because I I'll basically, you know,
it's like any other investigation.
 I'll
have to read him as Manderites
 and you
know, if he doesn't want to speak to me,
then you know, it's
 it's kind of how it
goes. But um
um
All right. Could I watch that video?
Yeah.
 And then that gives me time to
Where's that?
 Yeah. Well, we can
 You can
watch it right here. Right. You don't
even need to put the radio.
Can I actually have that chain of
custody at the bottom so I can get it?
Yeah. Just make sure you on a on a chain
of custody. You're handing Are you
taking disposition of the
 the drugs?
 The
drugs.
 Yeah. Yeah,
 just make sure you
you make sure that thing.
Let me call dispatch and get a case
number and everything for you guys.
 And
then just to update this to those what I
was telling you about.
 Yes, sir.
Yeah.
Hey, Daniel 79.
Hey, can I get a can I get a case
number?
79.
Sure.
Can I
Yeah.
196
 Mhm.
1 19669.
Yeah. Thank you so much.
You tell me when you're ready.
 Give me
just a second.
These TVs are huge.
Go ahead.
I got two things for you.
The first one's going to be um notice of
investigation.
Uh you're familiar with this, so if you
have any questions that you can ask me.
Um I set up your interview for tomorrow
at 8:00 at 2 p.m.
 I need you to print
your name here, your signature date, and
the time right there.
Right.
Yeah.
Yes. Almost. It's the seventh still.
34.
This is your copy. This is what this is.
And I need you to read this. This is
notice of administrative e.
Okay. So, if you understand that, you
have any questions? No.
 So, I need you
to hear everything here.
 It's going to
be your signature acknowledging that you
understand everything on here. If you
need a current telephone number and
current address. Okay.
Charlie 300.
So this is your copy. The important
thing I want to point out to you is just
you got to make sure that you got to
call Sonia HR every every day Monday
through Friday and then later the night
9:00 a.m. Okay.
At this time I will ask that you give me
your appointment.
There any personal belongings in your
locker?
I need your shirt.
Why do you need my shirt? I have all
kinds of shirts on this.
 That's fine for
now. I need that.
You want this, too?
Um, yeah.
You okay?
 No.
I'm going to take your
Hold on. Hold on.
Keep your hands here.
Okay. These gentlemen are going to ask
you a few questions. Okay.
 All right.
What's going on?
 How's it going, man?
What's your first name?
 Cohen.
 Cohen,
can you spell for me?
 Co hen. And last
name?
 Man.
Men.
 Gn.
Okay. I'm departing. This is Lieutenant
Zado at the Sheriff's Office.
 Um, by
chance, do you have your ID on you, man?
You
 all right? Take a deep breath.
You moved up pretty quick, huh? For
 I
have nine years transferred from the
prison.
 Oh, the prison.
 Which one was
better to work for?
 My ID was in the car
that he took
 the other employee.
 Yeah.
Okay.
 All my stuff's in there. My keys,
my phone, everything.
 Oh. Do you guys
live together?
 No.
 Okay. You just
commute together? Yeah, he used to be am
clerk. I don't carpo staff who
 me um I'm
giving you that that uh
um
basically it's a standard protocol. I
know my parents are both cops, but I
don't get your Miranda rights
 conducting
an investigation. You're not free to
leave right now.
 So because of that, we
have to read your
 um so I'm going to
read these to you,
 sir. Um, if you don't
uh understand something or you want me
to clarify, just let me know and I'll be
happy to do so. Okay.
Um, so you have the right to remain
silent. Anything you say may be used
against you as evidence in court. You're
entitled. Talk to a lawyer now and have
him or her present during questioning
um or at any time during questioning. If
you cannot afford a lawyer, uh, one can
be appointed for you at no cost. If you
decide to answer any questions now
without a lawyer present, you still have
the right to stop answering at any time.
Um, if you so desire, you also have the
right to stop answering at any time
until you are able to speak to a lawyer.
Did you have any questions on that?
Okay. Um, I would like you to review
this. It's up to you. Um, read the
statement here. um if you're willing to
speak with us.
Time right now is 11:42 p.m.
Thank you, sir.
 Okay. So,
tell me what's going on. What happened?
All I know is I came up to my briefing
to brief my shift and STI came up and
they passed me a note. Um, and it
stated, "LT, um, we're going to search
this car and this car and this guy and
this guy. Um, and, uh, we're going to
pat search you as well." And I said,
"Okay." Wrote, "Okay," in my note,
passed it to the officer. I did my
briefing. My briefing left. Um, they
told me to grab my belongings, come in
here, which I came in here, they pat
searched me. They took all my stuff out
of my pockets, went through everything
individually. Um, then they did to my
staff, and they gave me a consent to
sign a vehicle. I told them I didn't
drive.
 Um they stated, "Who'd you drive
with?" I told them who I drove with and
they said, "Okay." And then uh they
talked to him. I told us to follow them.
We walked outside. Um we stood in admin.
They went to the car. Um Sean went with
the the officer over there, Dela Cruz.
They stood by the car and then uh Dela
Cruz opened his door. They were there
for a minute talking about his ID. And
one thing I'll say is I know he doesn't
have registration and I believe his
insurance is expired. Not
 his car. So he
started panicking because at the prison
at that is they impound your car right
away.
 His car is co-signed by his
father.
 So he started freaking out.
Okay.
 Um he's young. He's 22 years old.
I don't know. Anyway, um that's when he
Dela Cruz said asked for went to go
write down his ID number and then he
told Dela Cruz, I want you to search my
car. And then uh I don't know what
happened from there. All I know is that
Sean walked back inside. We were
standing right there. Um he kept looking
at me. I kept looking at him. I'm like,
"What are you doing?" And he's like,
"They're not searching my car." And I
believe it's on their lapel probably
because they have lapel footage of it.
Okay.
 And then he uh told them he's
leaving. He said, "I'm leaving." I said,
"All right." That was it. Like I said, I
can't I can't control um I don't hang
out with Sean White on the streets at
all. He lives about four miles from me.
He's It's easy to commute with all the
driving I do. I worked this my 12 out of
13 day straight that I've worked. Okay.
Um, I can't dictate what's in his car or
what he has or anything like that. It's
just writing with him. You know what I
mean? So, I don't know.
 Do you um do you
you said you have your keys and my phone
and all that stuff in his car? Um,
anything else in that car that's yours?
No.
 Okay.
 Um, do you always take his
car? You got or do you guys alternate
back and forth?
 Yeah.
 Okay. Um, and he
didn't mention anything to you today.
No, nothing.
 Have you ever known him to
use drugs or anything like that?
 He's in
the military.
 Military?
 Yes. He's
actually leaving next month. Uh going
back
 a whole year.
 Uh Army or what?
Army. Yeah.
 Uh is he a newer employee
here?
 Uh he's been here maybe about 18
months, I believe.
 18 months. Yeah.
What's Sean's last name?
 White.
 And he
transferred from um he came from another
facility, Santa County. Came here, hired
him.
 He was a SEO for a little bit, but
then he went to EM as a EM clerk. Then
after EM um they uh he transferred, I
believe, back. That's when he became an
officer. He's only been an officer maybe
three months. Okay.
 Back online.
 Was uh
in Sandival? Was he an officer, too?
Yes, he was. He's a booking officer.
Okay.
 Um and you've never known him. Do
you have a drug problem, anything like
that? And we talked about it.
 Said I
don't really know him like that on a
personal level, but he's
 he's one of my
best officers, honestly.
 Yeah.
 He's one
of the only ones that know his master
control, anything. Always on time. He's
never had abusive sick leave. I've never
had to write him up before. Um I don't I
don't understand.
 Okay.
So, um, in in our investigation,
um, they,
uh, the officers were, um, had found a
package in the parking lot.
 A package?
Yeah. Just a small little baggie. Um,
so, as you know, protocol is whenever
they find potential narcotics,
 calling.
Yeah. and they'll review surveillance
video and all that um to see where it
came from to see if it was from, you
know, a civilian, you know, trying to
trying to smuggle drugs in or something
like that or if it's an employee.
 Um so
they reviewed the video and uh clearly
in the video um you're seen and in that
same video um there's a package that
when you reach into your pocket, you
pull out and you drop something on the
ground.
I did.
 You did?
What?
It's right here, man.
 This is it right
here.
I dropped the pack. I dropped that
package on the floor.
 There's a little
envelope in there. So, you reached into
your right pocket and you pulled out
that and just dropped it as you're
walking through the parking lot right in
the front.
 I dropped it.
 Yeah.
and you continued walking in because
when you guys pull in the parking lot,
um Sean stayed in the car, you got out
immediately and started walking in. Um
and clear as day and it it sits it sits
right there the entire time. Nobody
touches it. Nobody looks at it.
 Um it
sits in that same spot until they take
you guys out. Um and you're dealing with
Sean's dealing with the officer who's
about to search and you're standing
there with a female I forget her name.
Yeah, bet.
Yeah. And um that's when one of the
officers sees it on the ground and picks
it up and protocol of course is to to
review video and that came
 dropped that
on the ground.
 Yeah.
And I'm just I I know the job can be
stressful.
I mean, everybody has their their outs.
I mean, is it something you want to talk
about? Like I I know you said you're
working. This is what your 12th day in a
row.
 Yeah, it is, man. But I
I have no idea what that is. And I
dropped it on the ground.
I I have money and stuff in here that is
similar to that. I I dropped it on the
ground. Can I see the footage? Am I
allowed to?
 You know what, Coen?
 Yeah.
Let Let me just be straight up with you,
okay?
 Um you're on lapel right now. This
is all being videotaped. Okay.
Um,
I've been a cop for 16 years
and we have good relationships with the
DA's office. We have good relationships
with, you know, the judicial process.
Your best bet right now is to be
completely honest. Okay? Honesty,
believe it or not, it's instilled to us
when we're kids. It does go a long ways.
I mean, it's
It's clear as day on video.
I mean, we're giving you the opportunity
right now to tell us what's going on.
Were you, you know, cuz we don't know.
Are you smuggling this into inmates? Is
it personal use?
You know, is there more people involved?
Because I I I guarantee you that tonight
is the tip of the spearhead, man.
A thorough indepth investigation is
going to be conducted by our
investigations division starting first
thing tomorrow.
So your honesty will go a long ways.
I don't know what to say.
The truth.
We're not here to judge you or anything,
man.
 I'm not here for that either. I'm
just saying I don't I don't understand
really don't.
Like I said, if it's something that
um you need help with, I mean, this is
this we're an avenue to to get that
help. I mean, we're we're all in this
team together. We're not separate, you
know what I mean?
We're here for each other and if it's
something you're having an issue with,
um, we have resources to to help you
with that. Um, but the first step in
anything is is to admit that you have
the problem.
That's all it comes down to.
You don't want to answer any more
questions?
 No,
I want
um
Okay.
51 51.
This is your wallet. Okay.
 Huh?
 Can you
take it?
All right.
 Can you stand up for me?
Turn around for me.
 Oh, no. Come on,
man. Why?
 We have to.
 No. Why? Why do
you have to do this, Tado? Come on, man.
I'll tell you. I'll tell you what
everyone knows.
 No, we're we're past
that.
 I'm trying. No, I'm trying to
talk. Let me talk about this, man.
 We're
past that point.
 Oh, please. I will talk
to you, man. Just get do this, man. I'll
talk to you. I was not
 You're under
arrest.
 Why?
 Because you were in
possession, man. No. Come on, man. I
didn't bring How? I didn't bring it into
the facility.
You were in possession of it.
 LT, give
me a chance, man.
 You know what?
 I'll
talk to you. I promise, man.
 You already
told us you didn't want to talk to me.
No, I meant because I need to calm down.
Now we're telling you you're under
arrest and now you're wanting to change
your story.
 I'll talk to you and tell
you anything you want to know
 legally.
You know if you're telling us you don't
want to talk and now you're
 I didn't say
I didn't want to talk. I said I I said I
don't want anything else to say right
now.
 Okay.
 If you have something else to
say that's fine but understand you're
being arrested tonight regardless.
 Are
you serious?
 Yes.
Whatever man.
 So we can talk
 but you're
being but I'm not going to lie to you
and say you're not being arrested. I'm
going to jail tonight.
 Why?
 Possession
of
 serious right now, man.
 How? How? I I
didn't
like I told you it's clear,
 man.
 Clear
as day on video.
 Can I talk to you real
quick before I go in there, man? Please.
Yeah. Sit down. Talk to us.
 We'll talk
to us.
I'm going to read you the rights again.
Okay. Just because you said you refused
last time. I didn't.
 Well, no. You want
to stop answer questions, so we're just
going to reread them to you just to make
sure nothing's changed. Okay.
 So, you
have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say may be used against you
as evidence in court.
 I'm really going
to jail.
 You're entitled to talk to a
lawyer now and have him present during
questioning.
 My dad's in the FBI. Dude,
if you cannot afford a lawyer, one will
be appointed to you at no cost. If you
decide to answer any questions now
without a lawyer present,
you will still have the right to stop
answering any time if you so so desire.
You also have the right to stop
answering anytime until you are able to
speak to a lawyer. Would you still wish
to speak to us?
 Yes, sir.
 Yes. Okay.
Talk to us.
How long has this been going on?
 Not
long.
 Not long. Is it work? No,
 sir.
 No.
Personal things getting done into your
your mind or what?
just don't want to blame myself.
Well, this is what I was talking about
before. Um,
 I wanted to talk to you
guys, man. I just didn't I don't I
didn't want to be on camera.
 No, I know.
And it wasn't even because of that. It's
just because that
I just I I have nine years in two weeks,
man. I I
Everything's gone now.
Corin, let me ask you the hard
questions. Okay.
 Yes, sir.
 Um,
were you bringing this into the
facility?
 Swear to God, sir. It was not
on my children.
 For the inmates?
 No,
sir. No, sir.
 If you were to submit to a
drug test right now, would you have
methamphetamine in your system?
 Yes,
sir.
 You would?
 Yes, sir.
When did you last use?
 Um, two days ago.
Two days ago.
Does anybody know of this problem?
 No,
sir.
 Sean?
 No, sir.
Are you aware of any other um staff
members that either have a drug problem
or are bringing bringing drugs into the
facility?
 No, sir. Of course not. No, I
don't.
 And you're the overall supervisor
of your shift, correct?
 Yes, sir.
talked
to any
 What What caused you
to disregard it in the in the parking
lot like that?
 I didn't even know I
dropped it, man.
 You didn't?
 No, I did
not, sir.
 You didn't see like the STI uh
explorer out there freak out?
 I don't
know cuz they've been staying out there.
I don't know. I didn't freak out. I I
honestly
I would never do that, man. Bring
anything to a facility. Never have.
 So
it accidentally fell out of your pocket.
You didn't intentionally throw it in
your shirt.
 Did you know you had it on
you?
 Honestly, no, man. I didn't.
Um, so did it start with meth or did it
go
 No, that's it. I never I barely
started messing with it. And the reason
why is because of all the overtime that
I've been working and everything like
that. I can't stay awake during the day.
Yeah.
 I can't It's It's rough, man.
 I
know.
stressful.
So these are obviously your work
clothes, right?
 So
I mean just be straight up with us. Be
honest with us.
 You say you didn't know
it was in your pocket, but I mean you
if it's in your work if it's in your
work pocket.
 You see these little
pockets right here?
 No, but what I'm
saying is these are your work pants.
 I
know. I washed I washed my pants and
it's inside that little pocket right
there. Man,
 have you brought it to work
before?
 I I hadn't been doing it and I
started to so I could stay awake.
You use it at work to stay awake
 in the
parking lot? Yes, sir.
Do you get like breaks where you go out
into the parking lot or
just through a pipe?
How do you how do you adjust it?
 Snort
it.
 Snort it.
And when did you start doing this?
 A few
months back. a few months ago.
I don't know, Co. I'm having a hard time
believing you.
 No, I don't.
 You're
You're a big guy. You're in shape.
I'm not finding you.
 You don't look like
I will do a pistach right now.
 You're
addicted to me to me.
 I'm not addicted,
man. I'm telling you. I mistake. I'm
telling you. I kept it inside that
little pocket right there. I would never
bring [ __ ] into a facility, man. Never.
That's against everything that I put
down on my children's life. I'll take a
polygraph, anything you want, man. I
would never do that. I've been in this
game too long, man.
In this game way too long,
my mom worked across. He's a lieutenant
across the street. My dad was FBI. He's
a captain across the street. Went to
Reancho PD. My uncle, my brother,
everybody's in law enforcement. Man, I
have a hard time. I'm a single father
with three kids, two baby mamas. I I
don't have problems financially, nothing
like that at all. I don't I have a
beautiful home, everything. I just I I
work a lot of overtime, man. We only
have three lieutenants. Now they only
have two, you know what I mean? And I
I know I haven't called in in over a
year, man. I just got an award for it.
You know, I I would never bring it into
a facility and and give it to an inmate.
I'll take a whatever you want me to do.
I'll polygraph anything. and I'll take
it.
All right. I mean, like I said, I have
to ask the hard questions.
 That's fine.
And I I would tell you
 these questions
are going to be investigated further.
You know,
 that's fine. And I would never
do that, man. I would never do that.
Okay.
 Like I said, I'll submit to a
playraph on it.
You
 said the last time you used was 2
days ago.
 Yes, sir.
And does this uh
Sean
have any
 I mean cuz we're going to find
out. I'm telling you right now. We're
going to find out.
 And it seems
extremely suspicious and coincidental to
me that
you guys pull up, you get out of the
car, you're walking towards the
facility.
 It was 6:01 and I wasn't My
briefing is supposed to start at 6:00. I
don't know. It it you know I don't know
if something spooked you. It could have
accidentally fallen out.
 Um I didn't see
any other reason in the video why you're
it's not like you came out of your
pocket with something else in your hand.
You weren't putting anything in your
pocket. I mean these are all clues that
I've been a cop for 16 years.
 I'm
telling you I didn't drop it for
anybody. If you said that I I didn't.
Then on top of that,
when they
asked Sean to search his vehicle,
he gets he basically refused knowing
that that's probably going to be the end
of his job here.
So
looking at it from outside in at in an
investigative standpoint, and you're not
done. You've been in corrections for
nine and a half almost 10 years.
 You
were STIU across the street, right? Yes,
ma'am.
 You've conducted investigations.
You've watched the
 plenty of them.
 You
That's why I have I have no
 You have
that mind, right? Yes, sir.
 You have an
investigative mind. So, see where we're
coming from.
 I do. I do, man. I'm
 This
guy takes off basically knowing I'm
going to lose my job tonight if I don't
let him search my car. And he makes a
decision not to let them search his car.
That tells me he either, you know, he
must have had something in the car.
 I'll
tell you guys. All right. Little baggie.
Whenever he had found it, we didn't know
because I like I checked my pocket and I
didn't have it. Okay. And I told him
there's something in there that you're
going to be upset about. You can watch
the lapel cuz I didn't know where it
went. Then Dela Cruz walked over after
he had already told them he wasn't let
him search a car and he said he found
the baggie in the parking lot. And
that's when the kid said, "I'm out of
here.
That's honest to God, man. Telling you.
I couldn't find it when I walked in. I
was like, "What the hell?" I started
panicking. And then when Del Cruz came
over and he said he found it, I said,
"Fuck, man." And the kid saw him. His
eyes got big and then he left. Panicked
and left.
 So, you're saying, just so
we're clear on this, you're saying when
they first approached you guys, said,
"Hey, we're doing a random search on you
guys tonight." You realized you didn't
have the myth in your pocket. You
started freaking out and you told Sean.
No. A after the fact. So, listen. Sean
Sean couldn't see me because he was in
briefing over there. I I talked to all
the shift. He got up and he walked away
and he went to go uh he um when they
said who was being searched, we came
down here. They took us individually and
here we're standing. Then he went to go
search the car and I went to go when we
were walking down. I checked my pocket
and I didn't fill it. And then when they
said they were searching the car, he if
you look, he already signed the consent.
I believe they could or something. And I
don't remember. Then he goes over and I
told him I said, "There's something in
your car that's not supposed to be."
Where did this happen at?
 Um we're
walking out the front admin right here
to go to the car.
 Yes. I said, "There's
something in your car that's not
supposed to be in there at." And he
panicked. He went over and Dela Cruz
already opened up his car door. We go
look on camera. He opens his car door.
He's already looking there. Then we came
over. He's like, "Okay, come over and
stand over." And he he's standing next
to me. And that's when Dela Cruz says,
"I found this in the parking lot." And
then his eyes got all big like that. And
then we come back inside and then he
says, "I'm out of here." He left. That's
why he didn't give me my stuff or
anything. I'm being serious. My phone or
my keys. Who knows what the kid's going
to do, man?
Do you know where he lives?
 I don't.
You said you guys car.
He comes. We meet at my house every
time.
 Oh, he's at your house.
So this happened a couple you said you
started about a couple months ago.
 Just
where do you get it from?
See where they got fired at the prison.
My sergeant
was Andrew Hill
back about eight months ago.
never got booked in or anything.
Where does he Does he work anywhere now?
No, he's moved. He's gone.
 Really?
But you get your supply from him?
 It's
not even a supply, man.
 No,
 I've never
had anything more than that.
Like, be like, be honest with me.
Seriously, the mountain is little. Why
if I was bringing that into an inmate?
You
like how easy it is. I'm a ship
commander, man. How easy to walk
through. I would never bring drugs into
a facility, man, and give it to an
inmate.
You know what I mean? Like,
 well,
 I'm
telling you, I would tell you, man,
Coin, I'm telling you, bro,
 when you're
if you're using them, drugs change
people.
 I would never do that, man. I
don't use
 I mean, you've seen it. I've
seen it. I know I don't.
 And so I mean
I'm not no disrespect whatsoever but I
can't just sit here and believe
everything you're telling me.
 I'll take
a poligraph man
 on anything you want.
I'll take it. I'm submit to anything
right now and saying it.
 I mean you
could say it's such a small amount. Why
would I bring more in? I could say
 maybe
you're afraid to bring more in and so
you're just bringing in a little at a
time.
 Test and you'll see for yourself,
man. Go get one right now. I don't have
nothing to hide about that. I'm telling
you everything on my life right now.
I'll take a urine test. Go get one.
 How
often do you use a week?
 Only on my day
off.
 Your days off?
Except tonight because you originally
said you were going that you use it in
the parking lot. Yes, sir.
So, how many times a week then?
I'm not sure, man. Like I said, this is
this was my I worked six and six
straight days. That was my No, I worked
so I worked Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday. I had Sunday off and then I
worked Monday, Tuesday, all hours and I
have three little kids, man. Exhausted.
12 hours.
 12 16 sometimes I have to stay
if I have an incident
and and
you know they take a lot of heat, man,
as a lieutenant all the time. I'm
getting shoot off with my staff. Why am
I doing this? Why am I doing that? I
stress and I have to deal with my baby
mas to try and stay awake watching my
little kids.
It's
 not an excuse, man. It's on me. But
I'll take a urine test right now and
show you. I would never bring anything
in, man.
And now, and look what happened to me
now, guys. My life's ruined now. It is.
My life is ruined.
 I wouldn't say your
life is how embarrassing it's going to
be, dude. My parents, man.
 I get that.
I'm not trying to minimize it.
 I would
never bring [ __ ] in, man. And I have to
My parents are going to see this [ __ ]
I'm probably going to be on the news,
man. I was on TV for rookie of the year
and [ __ ] bro. Like, don't do this to
me, man.
Your hands are tied. You can't
 I didn't
bring it in the facility. It's in the
parking lot. It's not even a secure
perimeter, man. I wouldn't do that. Why
would I drop something right there, man?
It's unfortunately it's still a felony
crime just to be in possession of it.
Yeah, but I don't get it, man. I'm
telling you, man.
 And unfortunately, our
hands are tied. We have laws we have to
enforce and policies we have to follow.
It's not in the It's not in the
 Trust
me. We're not getting any pleasure out
of this whatsoever.
 Tell me, man. My
staff's
 if anything uncomfortable for
us.
This is not the call we want to go to.
I don't want to be on a new battle.
Please, man. Don't put me on the news.
 I
ain't putting you on the news. I have no
control over
 Come on, man. At least if I
go in there, don't put me on the news,
dude. My family,
why would I tell everybody? That's why I
don't tell nobody about this stuff,
my parents, and my mom mean everything
to me, man. Look, picture of my mom
right there, man.
Do they live locally? Huh? Do they live
downtown?
My dad just got the law passed for
reanch schools that carry guns and
security now. First time.
What did your dad do?
 You said he FBI.
He's still in there.
 No, he retired two
years ago, man.
 [ __ ] embarrassing,
bro.
 Bro, this isn't anything I want to
deal with either, man.
 Huh?
 I don't want
to deal with this either.
 I'm sorry.
It's cool, man. I know. You just have to
understand, man. You You know that.
 I
know. No, I'm not mad at you, man.
 No, I
know. I know, man.
 I knew it. I knew it.
I knew that.
Just sometimes, I mean, it's tough, man.
I mean, we just like, you know, you have
things you have to hold your
subordinates accountable for. We have
laws and so if we get approached with
something like this and we don't do
anything about it, then we're in
trouble, too. You know what I mean?
things things everything works itself
out. It's not the end of the world.
Trust me.
 I can't I don't I'm worried
about my family.
 I know
 my name is going
to be out on the news.
 I've I've had
many friends in the news and
 it's rough.
I know.
 If it makes the news I mean I'm
not going to it's not like I'm not going
to go to the news.
 You know what I mean?
What can I do, bro?
Well, um, so basically what happens,
man, um,
as I explained to you in the beginning,
the first step was admitting that
problem. And there's programs out there.
I know, man. I got to go to court and
see partnership with my kids. I'm going
to lose my children.
I mean, I I can't I can't speak for
that. Um,
but I I know in the in the criminal
aspect, the more you comply, the better
things are. I mean, I've I've been
around almost the same amount of time
you have, and
it's it's uh it looks a lot better in
people when they're they're cooperative.
Um, as hard as it is, I mean, I I
honestly, man, I appreciate just talking
with us. And we're not we're not here to
make your life horrible. I that's the
last thing I want to do, man. It's just
that's the unfortunate
side of my career sometimes. Um,
but I can tell you that from all my all
the people that I've known in this
career that have done things that have
got him in trouble,
um, they're still alive and they're
happy.
I know. I know.
 I just don't my family.
I know. I don't care about me. I don't I
I care about you, bro.
 Walking through
the door and everything, bro. I don't
care about
 I care about you, bro.
 I
don't understand. I get the stress. I
got to see hangings, people getting
stabbed, everything, dude. Like, they
don't talk to me. They ask me if I need
to help or nothing.
 I know. I know. I I
know. I've worked some cases with you,
man.
 Do you know you know Corpal Garcia?
They call him Bob.
 Where does he Where
does he normally work?
 For you, man.
 Oh,
yeah. Yeah.
 That's my kid stepfather. I
cannot let him know about this.
 Okay.
That's my kid. Me and him were cool,
too, man.
 It doesn't mean you still
can't be cool, man.
 No, he's a good guy
to my kids. Like, he co-arent really
good, man. That's what I'm saying. This
is deeper than what you think.
 I I know.
It's a It's a small community. I know. I
know, man.
It'll be okay in the end, though, man. I
I know right now it it's it seems
terrible and I and I wouldn't disagree
with that, but
sometimes you got to hit your lowest to
see your highest and
um I'll I'll I'll
uh be sure to document everything,
 bro.
How cooperative you were, man.
 I'm
telling you right now,
never bring that in to facility for an
inmate. I I'll give you a drug test
right now.
 Well, it's something we just
have to ask. It's not we're not
necessarily saying that you were
 but
like
 but it's something we have to look
into because obviously when you're
position any any detention officer's
position whether it's you know cadet to
lieutenant to warden it doesn't even
really matter. It's it's a question when
this situation arises we have to ask and
it's something we have to look into. You
know it's it's our it's our authority
and the public demands it. So, u when
he's asking me these question, he's not
just saying that you're doing it. Um,
but it's something that we we have to
look into. You know what I mean?
 Yeah.
Like I said, I'll take a year test and
show you guys.
 No, you said you were
going to Peter, right? Yeah, I know.
I'll do it right now.
Um, so did they put you um what was the
leave? Is it paid or unpaid?
 Paid.
But I'll I'll I'll even resign right
now, man. Just I I can't
 Well, I mean, I
I I can't give you any advice, but I
mean, they're putting you on paid leave.
I mean, in in our in the law's eyes,
you're you're innocent till proven
guilty. I mean, you know what I mean?
Well, I that's the law. I mean, we have
probable cause to arrest you, but it
doesn't mean you're guilty.
You know what I mean? And that's why
there's a court process. I'm not the
judge. I I am just the officer, you know
what I mean? So, it's not like this is
the end of it. This is, you know, this
is the end.
Um there's still a process has to go
through.
 Have to go to court and
everything
eventually.
Eventually. Yeah. Um
yeah, it's uh so generally uh felonies
are handled through the district
attorney's office. Um
I know, man. I know.
 I know. It's
 Yeah.
Any any measurable amount. Cocaine,
heroin, meth,
 anything like that, it's
it's all the same.
Um, you know, if it were marijuana or
something, it's a misdemeanor. But the
the harder drugs
are are felonies.
you about wrapped up.
 Like I said, man,
I we we take no no interest in this.
This this is not what we want to do, but
I'm telling you things will get better.
I got to go sit in a cell right now.
 The
warden wants to talk to you in private.
Are you all right with that?
You okay with that?
The kid, man.
I know he's pissed. I let his ass down.
Mhm. He's not mad. He's not mad.
Disappointed, I'm sure. But
 can I talk
to dear? I want them to see me crying.
Yeah, we're going to talk if we told him
as soon as we were done, we're going to
have him come in here and talk with you.
Look,
I'm embarrassing you.
 No, come here.
It's okay. you. Um, it's going to be
hard. It's going to be some rough time
for you right now, but uh,
 you'll get
through it.
 It ain't the end of the
world, man. Okay.
 Have a good talk. Put
the word in. He's known you since you
were a kid.
Okay.
One of my my kids that that officer for
you guys, Bob Garcia, corporal.
 Okay.
 Me
and him go parent really good, man. But
I'll tell him, please don't tell him.
I'll tell him, man. I don't want my kids
for me. I have them 50/50. I want them
to take it from me.
 Yeah, my word. I'm
 I
won't tell.
 I'll tell it.
 Okay, that
works.
Hold on. Let me ask you something.
 Yeah.
you guys have you decide what you're
going to charge him with?
 Um, and the
minimum possession and then
um probably the bringing because it's on
prison ground. There's a sign when you
come in saying you don't know.
 Okay.
 So,
it's probably going to be both. Okay.
It's a fourth degree and a third degree.
And are you going to walk you walk them
back to do the booking and take as
professionally as we um you know, if we
can clear the hallways or
 Yeah, of
course. Yeah.
Did you have a good talk with him?
Is there anybody I can call for you,
man?
Yeah.
Can I make a phone call?
Who do you want to call?
Thomas.
 Thomas?
 Yeah.
 Who's that?
 He's
like my brother, my roommate.
Um, what's his number?
Awake right now?
 Yeah. I don't know. He
might.
 Okay.
I want to call my girlfriend, man, but I
remember last four digits.
 Okay. Oh,
yeah. Cuz your phone's on here. Okay.
Okay. Um, give me just a second, man.
You okay?
 All right.
Uh,
so we'll make let you make a phone call
um through here. They'll give you a
phone. Okay. Um
uh that way you can at least let them
know what's going what's going on. I
know you want to talk to somebody.
I know I'm just a stranger to you, but
um I feel for you, man.
No, you're you're familiar to me, man.
Your name wasn't familiar. I I couldn't
Well, I deal with so many of you guys. I
You have a big uh
a lot of people over here.
So, um,
do you have anything else on you, man?
Nothing on you.
What's that ring for?
 Grandfathers.
Grandfathers.
Really?
I'm sorry, man.
Pretty close to him.
How about your necklaces?
You good, man?
I'm going to You're a pretty big dude.
I'm going to put two cuffs on. Okay,
man.
No, we're good.
Sorry, I forgot to tell you.
 Thanks for
that one. Is this yours, too?
 Good.
Okay, I'm just going to carry all this
over.
Amen.
Get the other stuff.
Oh, okay.
17.
Let's just
Do you know how much cash you have in
here?
$6. How much?
 $6.
 $6. Okay.
Straight in here.
Huh?
I just want to just I just set the
camera off. That's all.
$6.
You have is it just one necklace?
 Yeah.
Okay.
Give us a welcome sit down. Give us a
few minutes. Right.
 Checking on. You
okay?
 Yeah.
There you go.
Okay. Um, so today is the 8th of
November. Um, in your off, what's your
official title?
 I am STI K9
and STIU special security threat
intelligence unit. Yes.
 Okay. Um, and
you work for Santa Fe County, Santa.
Okay. Um, so I understand you had some
involvement today with an incident
regarding a lieutenant who works here
 um
and some alleged narcotics. Can you
explain your involvement in this
process?
 Yes. So today we were my me and
my team were advised to do a uh rand
random uh staff search.
 Okay.
 So we
selected three three officers. Two were
officers, one was a lieutenant. um
 did
our normal procedure and then talking to
them, letting them know what's going to
happen, having the officers and the
liendant sign a waiver saying that we
search their vehicle. Um at that time, I
escorted another officer out officer,
his name is Officer White, Sean White.
Okay.
 I es escorted him to his car. I
was assigned to him. Um during my time
with him, he refused to let me search
his car. Um
from there, he he left. He He just left
the premises.
 He just left.
 He left the
premises. Yeah. I mean, he came back. We
talked for a little while and I again
tried to, you know, convince him to
like, "Hey, let's search your car if you
have nothing nothing to worry about."
But he refused. So,
 is that unusual?
It's very unusual. Okay.
 Um, we So, the
other officer that we searched, he was
flying. He went through the process and
nothing was found on him. The lieutenant
carpulled with uh with Officer White.
So,
 what's the lieutenant's name?
 I'm
sorry.
 What's the lieutenant's name?
 Uh,
Magic. Co Magic.
 Okay.
 So, those two car
pulled. It was officer White's car. So,
we were searching his car. We tried to
search his car. He said no. So, I
contacted my supervisor.
I was advising her what was going on,
what we had attempted to do. And uh as I
was calling there, I happened to see a
clear white plastic baggie that had a
like a white crystal like substance in
it.
 Where was this at?
 It was in the
parking lot.
 Um where in the parking
lot?
 It was uh
 if you like Where was it
near? I guess you could say cuz it's
kind of a big park.
 It was near the
facility. The entrance to the facility
is near there. And it was near uh it was
like booking or like the front like the
admin
 the admin area. So, were you were
you guys going through the employees go
through?
 Yeah, we were going to the
employees at Okay.
 So, we were driving
from the facility. Um,
 I picked it up,
told my supervisor while I was on the
phone with her. Uh, she then advised me
to let one of my team members go to the
back and review the camera footage as I
test the substance. So, we concluded our
our searches since one of the officers
drove off, one was complaining, one
didn't have a car. uh went to the back
while one of my officers was was uh
reviewing camera. Me and another officer
were field testing. The the substance I
was found, the substance was with me the
whole time, never changed hands. So, I
held on to it the whole time. And during
the test process, she assisted me into
making sure that I was getting some some
of the substance inside the outside the
the NIK test kit, tested it, tested
positive for methamphetamine. Um and
then While my guy was reviewing the
cameras, we we noticed some suspicious
behavior as the Lieutenant Goen Manin
was was walking. It appeared that he
stuck his hand in his pocket and dropped
a dropped an item on the floor exactly
where that packet that found was. We
reviewed it multiple times and that
packet not once moved within I believe
it was approximately a 25 time uh time
period. Um,
and from there we just uh contacted the
wardens, contacted our our direct
supervisor and I contacted you guys.
Okay.
 Um, did you search the
lieutenant's person?
 I did not. Um,
somebody else did though.
 Yes, one of my
officers, she did. Um, it was in a
passage. It was just empty out your
pockets. Let me fill your pockets.
Nothing was located.
 Yeah, that's that's
good to do. And um
 when uh you noticed
the the item on the ground, what what
was it? What did it look like to you?
 As
soon as I saw it, I said that's myth.
Okay.
 That's Christian meth. And I say
that just I mean I you deal a lot.
 I
deal with it a lot. I mean that's one of
my main duties in my position is dealing
with the narcotics here.
 Okay. So you've
seen meth. You've seen a lot of drugs.
I've seen a lot of drugs. I'm the K9
officer. So I mean I have to run my dog
through actual drugs sometimes.
I mean,
 so you have a lot of training
then with dealing with narcotics.
Narcotics.
 Okay. Um the item um what was
it contained in?
 It was in a small
little plastic baggie with like alien
faces on one side of it. The other side
was clear.
 Okay.
Um, and so, uh, going back to the the,
uh, the operation, are these usually
like scheduled or is it kind of like a
last minute thing or depends really, um,
depends on the intelligence we gathered
throughout the week, throughout the
month. Um, this time it was just random.
Our boss uh, just said, "Hey, I want to
do some staff searches. Select three."
Selected three. And so,
 just random
search.
 So, the people you you selected,
you didn't have intelligence on them
that they were doing anything or
nothing. I mean
we we I guess we have intelligence on
anything that goes on in the facility.
Oh yeah, of course.
 But overall with
this operation, it was nothing on
intelligence on these certain
individuals. It was just
 just random.
Okay. Just chance.
 Just happened. Okay.
All right. Um
and employees, I'm assuming, uh correct
me if I'm wrong, uh are required to
complete the searches.
 Yeah. you know,
um, as a we have them sign a waiver and
even when they get employed, they
acknowledge that if they're a member of
Santa Fe County, they're, uh, entire,
what's the word? They're, uh, subject to
search.
 Okay.
 And, uh,
 because of the
controlled environment.
 Exactly. And
also, it goes for visitors as well that
come in, they have signs all over the
before you enter the facility that you
are subject to search.
 Yeah. as being an
officer, an employee of the of the of
the jail, you're subject to search
without any question. And the only the
paper I was trying to give him was just
to get his license and his license
number on it really. And he he refused.
Um, did he say why he refused?
 Uh, no.
He just kept telling me he's no, he
refuses. He refuses. And, uh, toward the
end he told me, "Well, I don't have uh,
insurance." And I said, "I'm not looking
for insurance. It's not my job." Yeah.
I, you know, I'm just want to look
inside your car subject to search to a
directive given to me and uh he just
said no while I refuse.
 So it's
basically your your uh objective is to
find uh not just narcotics but any
contraband
 any type of contraband that
can be a weapon or any threat to our
facility to the inmates or to our staff
or any potential weapon that can hurt
staff members themselves or the inmates.
So that's our job is we just make sure
that
 we stop any any threat coming into
understood. Um
did you ever have any other contact with
lieutenant?
 Um after uh finding the
after the fact the little bit contact
that we did have I was I just asked him
why did officer white leave you know
they carpool together they work together
and he was just telling me the same
thing. Oh it's cuz he doesn't have any
insurance registration. So he didn't
know anything about the item that he
dropped then or did you
 I uh at that
point I hadn't connected it yet because
we hadn't reviewed the video.
 So okay
 I
was just asking just bas basic questions
keeping it short
 and when we went back
that's when we saw it but after we saw
the video we had no further contact with
him.
 Okay. Um anything further you can
add anything else you think at this
point? No.
 Awesome. I appreciate your
time man.
 I appreciate it. Thank you.
Thank you.