Grovetown police have arrested three people on drug trafficking charges after they were caught trying to use a drone to drop large amounts of marijuana and meth into the Augusta State Medical Prison.
Just before midnight Friday, officers with the Grovetown Police Department encountered two subjects, Gerald Jiminez, 28, and Joslynn Apaisa, 26, both of Grovetown, walking near the dead-end of Railroad Avenue at its border of Augusta State Medical Prison property.
Due to an increase in thefts and entering auto cases in the city, Sgt. Michael Felicies and Ofc. Brittany Nelson exited their vehicles and began conducting a field interview of both Jiminez and Apaisa, according to Grovetown Police Chief Jamey Kitchens.
“Mr. Jiminez was wearing a backpack, which upon being searched was found to contain a remote-control drone as well as two vacuum sealed packages,” the chief said in a release. “One package contained over a pound of Marijuana, and one contained over a pound of Methamphetamine. The drone was outfitted with a hook and release mechanism and Mr. Jiminez had additional drone parts in a separate fanny pack located on his waist.”
While Officers were speaking with the pair, 28-year-old Isreal Walters of Augusta arrived at the scene in a vehicle and stated that he was in the area to provide a ride to Apaisa, despite Jiminez’s vehicle being parked a short distance away. Walters was then detained while the investigation continued.
“Upon questioning at the Grovetown Police Department, Mr. Jiminez and Ms. Apaisa admitted to being in the area with the intent of introducing the narcotics onto the premises of Augusta State Medical Prison via the drone,” Chief Kitchens said. “Further investigation revealed that Mr. Walters was familiar with the plan and may have been in the area acting as a lookout.”
All three individuals were charged with Trafficking of Methamphetamine and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and committed to the Columbia County Detention Center. More charges will likely be forthcoming, Chief Kitchens said.
