Glendale police: Packaged drugs found during body search of jailed man

A 30-year-old Glendale man was arrested this week on suspicion of dealing narcotics in Glendale and smuggling several grams of drugs into the local jail in his rectum, police said.

Narcotics detectives had taken Leyvi Dawson into custody on Monday for alleged drug dealing. When they searched him as he was being booked into the Glendale police jail, they made the discovery, according to police reports.

A piece of cellophane containing 1 1/2 grams of methamphetamine and a couple of grams of heroin fell from his buttocks during the strip search, the report states.

Dawson reportedly told police that he didn’t tell officers about the drugs because he “hoped he would get away with” smuggling it into jail, said Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz.

The heroin likely equaled 12 small bags, which could be sold for $20 each, Lorenz said, adding that the methamphetamine could have been portioned into six quarter-gram packages, which would also be valued at $20 each.

Dawson told police he recently started selling drugs to support his drug habit, Lorenz said.

Earlier that day, detectives obtained a warrant and searched Dawson’s apartment in the 700 block of East Garfield Avenue, where they discovered scales, material for packaging drugs and ledgers detailing drug sales activity, police said.

Dawson was booked on suspicion of smuggling illegal narcotics into jail and possessing methamphetamine and heroin for sale, according to police reports.

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