Rowe caught bringing contraband into jail

A Sallisaw woman has been charged with bringing contraband into jail, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia after law enforcement reported finding items on her person while being booked into jail.

Niki L. Rowe, 37, was charged Feb. 8 in Sequoyah County District Court, and received a $2,000 bond. After failing to appear for a Feb. 15 felony disposition docket, a bench warrant was issued for her arrest the same day with no bond, and the warrant was later recalled.

Sallisaw Police Officer DeShawna Neff reported on Feb. 1 she was dispatched to Walmart to transport Rowe from the store for shoplifting. When Neff ran the woman’s information through dispatch, it was discovered she had an active warrant for Sequoyah County.

Neff placed Rowe under arrest and asked if she had anything illegal on her person, to which Rowe told her she did not. Rowe was then transported to the Sallisaw Police Department.

The officer said she carried in a jacket, scarf and purse belonging to Rowe, and inside the purse she discovered a zippered bag containing two spoons with white residue, a used syringe and a plastic bottle containing a green leafy substance, according to the probable cause affidavit. Rowe was booked on her charges and transported to the Sequoyah County Detention Center.

The detention center contacted Neff a short time later after discovering a metal container with four yellow pills in Rowe’s jacket. The pills were reportedly identified as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine 30 mg, which are a Schedule 2 narcotic. Pieces of what appeared to be a white pill were also found in the container.

The items were seized and sent to the state crime lab for further analysis, according to the report.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said bringing contraband into jail is a felony, and is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for one to five years, or a fine of $100 to $1,000, or both fine and imprisonment, if found guilty.