Jail drug scanner leads to confession of hidden narcotics

November 26, 2019 John Clark

Rebecca L. Roberts. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department

A woman about to go through the body scanner at the Bartholomew County Jail is now facing new charges, after she admitted to staff that she had drugs hidden in a body cavity.

At about 7:52 p.m. Monday night, deputies stopped a vehicle at 11th and Franklin streets. A passenger, 50-year-old Rebecca Roberts of Columbus, was found to have an outstanding warrant and was arrested. Sheriff’s Department police dog Diesel alerted to the odor of narcotics but none were found. Roberts allegedly would not respond when asked by deputies if she was carrying drugs.

But when confronted with the body scanner, she admitted to hiding methamphetamine and marijuana. She was checked out at Columbus Regional Hospital and then arrested on the warrant and on drug possession charges.