Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: An inmate at the Graham County Adult Detention Facility received extra charges after attempting to smuggle fentanyl into jail.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man wanted on an out-of-county warrant has received additional charges in Graham County after authorities say he attempted to smuggle fentanyl into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on July 28. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that can be 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin.
Michael Christopher Pisarski, 39, has been charged with taking contraband into a correctional facility, possession of a narcotic drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.
Pisarski was already on probation out of Cochise County for possession of a narcotic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. After being jailed, a petition to revoke his probation and a warrant for his arrest out of Cochise County was granted on Aug. 4.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report, Pisarski was being searched just before 5 a.m. when staff noticed he attempted to hide something under his foot.
Pisarski failed to follow commands regarding the item, so he was taken into detention officer control and the item – a rifle bullet – was recovered. Officers located five blue Oxycodone pills inside the bullet. The pills are similar to counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills common in the area.
Pisarski allegedly denied knowing what kind of pills were inside the bullet but referred to knowing it was contraband as he claimed he thought he could trade it for money placed “on his books” at the jail commissary. He declined to say who he thought he could trade the pills to for money.
