Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – July 26, 2024 – According to Craighead County Sheriff Marty Boyd, an inmate died while in jail custody on Wednesday around 9pm.
Boyd told JRN that an inmate “got through the screening process” with some contraband by way of fentanyl pills. He reportedly passed the pill(s) around to at least one other inmate, who died as a result.
On Wednesday night, Detention Center staff were alerted to the unresponsive inmate, and lifesaving measures were unsuccessful.
As a result, 31-year-old Daniel Robinson of Jonesboro was pronounced dead at the hospital. He had been incarcerated since March.
A source close to the situation told JRN, “My boyfriend was in the same pod as the victim. He said he likely took something. They came in to revive him but wasn’t successful. They put everybody in a holding cell from 10ish to 5 am. There were multiple fights while all 68 men were in a holding cell to which everyone got pepper sprayed.”
Robinson’s body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsy, and the investigation was turned over to CCSO Criminal Investigation Division staff.
Staff conducted around 30 interviews on Thursday to determine how many inmates the contraband could have affected.
Throughout their investigation, 28-year-old inmate Lacey Barber was arrested and charged with Death by Delivery.
After requesting Barber’s original arrest report from JPD, details state that he was arrested during a traffic stop probation search by the Drug Task Force. Listed charges include simultaneous possession, possession of firearm by certain persons, possession of felony drug paraphernalia, possession of misdemeanor drug paraphernalia, and possession of sch VI with purpose to deliver.
Listed seized property includes multiple handguns, ammo, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.
Formal Death by Delivery charges were brought on Friday afternoon during Barber’s PC hearing.
He was given a $50,000 c/s bond for the original possession charges and a $500,000 c/s bond for the death by delivery charges.
The probable cause affidavit states: On July 24th, 2024, I was the Detective on call for the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office. At approximately 10:00 pm I received a phone call advising me that there was a possible overdose at the Craighead County Detention Center that caused the death of Inmate Daniel Robinson. I responded to the Sheriff’s Office to begin my investigation. During my investigation I learned that Daniel Robinson snorted suspected Fentanyl while in the jail. I also learned that a new intake inmate had just recently been placed in the unit that Robinson was housed in. The new inmate was Lacey Barber. I reviewed the in-house jail cameras and I was able to see Barber pass something to multiple inmates in the unit not long after he arrived. I spoke to the inmates that I saw Barber hand something to and they all told me that Barber gave them a “blue pill” and they all told me that it was a ” Perk 30″ which is a Fentanyl based pill. Some of the Inmates I spoke to told me that they traded commissary items to Barber for these blue pills. On Camera I could see Barber walking around with multiple commissary items less than an hour after he entered the unit. While watching the Cameras I was able to to see the transaction made between Daniel Robinson and Lacey Barber at approximately 9: 13 pm. At approximately 9:22 pm it appears as if Robinson sits down and takes the pill. At approximately 9:32 pm is when it appears that Robinson loses consciousness. I along with other Deputies went to the unit that the incident occurred to process the scene. We were able to locate in the unit some blue/white pill powder residue on one of the bunks. This substance was located on one of the inmates bunks that told me that he received a “blue pill” from Barber. I was able to collect this substance as evidence. I spoke with Barber and he initially he told me that he never gave anyone in the unit anything. I told him that I could see him on camera handing something to multiple inmates and he told me that he was giving them tobacco. I asked Barber how he had tobacco and he told me that he hid two cigarettes in his sock when he was searched. Barber told me that he gave the cigarettes to three different inmates which are the same three inmates that told me that Barber gave them a “blue pill” that they believed to be Fentanyl.