Minnesota prison guard describes dangerous drug smuggling encounters: 'It's scary for everyone'

BAYPORT, Minn. –Sergeant. Staci Stone had just started her shift at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater on a Thursday morning when a nurse called for Narcan, the antidote to a drug overdose.

Stone, a veteran correctional officer for more than 15 years, explained that the Narcan was actually intended for a colleague, another police officer, who had just caught an inmate smoking a synthetic narcotic.

“It was just in the air. Whatever he smoked, he blew it out,” Stone said. “And once we were out in the air, we started showing symptoms.”

Starting in June, employees at Stillwater, Rush City and Faribault correctional facilities began sifting through, scanning and reprinting mail after investigators discovered portions of it legal and private mail tainted and contaminated with synthetic narcotics.

However, this incident in Stillwater occurred in September and resulted in a two-day lockdown. Nine employees, including Stone, were hospitalized.

“We went to the health service and then all of a sudden we just laid down vomiting. The nausea and vomiting made our symptoms worse,” she said. “It’s scary for everyone.”

According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, there have been at least 70 cases of suspected overdoses in state prisons so far this year, most of them resulting in drug overdoses Lockdowns that frustrate inmates, staff and their families.

The DOC has emphasized that its Office of Special Investigations will continue to investigate the Stillwater incident and crack down on drug smuggling.

“At what point do you say enough is enough and try something else?” I guess I don’t know what the answer will be in the end, but I’m open to anything,” Stone said.

Also last month, a former correctional officer at Faribault — 43-year-old Lindsey Adams of Farmington — came forward. was arrested and charged with third-degree possession of methamphetamine and introducing contraband into a state correctional facility, the Rice County Prosecutor's Office said.

According to prosecutors, authorities saw the inmate and the guard interacting on live video.