A total of 13 inmates had to be treated after ingesting synthetic marijuana known as 2chee, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said at a Tuesday morning news conference.
That brings the total charged to six, including two other inmates who were charged on Monday before an overnight lockdown in which all 240 cells at the County Jail were searched by K9 units for drugs and related contraband.
Kieran O'Leary, spokesman for the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, said each of the charged inmates was found with small amounts of drugs or drug paraphernalia. The items will be tested to confirm substances, O'Leary said.
Charged with first-degree promoting prison contraband, a felony, on Tuesday was Kevin Murph, 33, of South Fourth Avenue in Mount Vernon.
Three others were charged with second-degree promoting of prison contraband, a misdemeanor: Paul Overton, 33, of Hudson Street in Yonkers; Franklin Sanchez, 27, of Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers; and Drew Senior, 21, whose address was not released by county police.
All four inmates will be arraigned in Mount Pleasant Town Court on July 30, along with two inmates who were charged on Monday afternoon: Deron Strange, 31, of Grace Church Street, Port Chester, and James Graziano, 30, of Fairfax Avenue, Mount Pleasant.
The jail was locked down overnight Monday for "a top to bottom search" for drugs and other evidence of smuggling, Astorino said
A total of 13 inmates had to be treated for overdoses of a synthetic marijuana known as "2chee" The synthetic drug -- which caused inmates to become combative, vomit or hallucinate -- also is called K2, spike or spice, county officials said.
"This is serious, nasty stuff,'' Astorino said. "It's hitting Westchester as well as New York state and the rest of the country."
For more information from Tuesday morning's press conference, click here.
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