Contraband delivery to prison foiled

BRONSON, Mich. (WOOD) - Authorities foiled an apparent delivery of contraband to inmates at a southern Michigan prison.

An adult drove to Eaton Rapids, picked up a juvenile relative and two of the teen's friends, and traveled to the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, police said.

The group set up a plan with some inmates to deliver contraband over the fence, police said. It appears the adult was training the 16-year-olds to make future deliveries.

Corrections officers called police around 8 p.m. Thursday after seeing two people throw a package over the north perimeter fence of the facility. Officers told the Branch County Sheriff's Department a vehicle fled the property northbound toward Newton Road.

Deputies responded to intended area and began searching for the car and suspects. After several passes, they spotted the vehicle as it returned. Deputies stopped it on Bidwell Road and detained two of the juveniles from Eaton Rapids.

The two teens confessed to their involvement in the delivery and said two other people were involved.

Those other people -- an adult and a third juvenile -- were found near the Walmart distribution center, 510 Jonesville Road in Coldwater. The adult was arrested and the juvenile was detained.

Corrections officers recovered the contraband that was thrown over the fence. They also identified possible recipients within their facility.

The juveniles were released to their parents, and deputies will be seeking charges for drugs found in the vehicle after seeking a search warrant.

All of the suspects involved could face possession of drug charges.