Acting on information provided by jail personnel from the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, agents from the Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted surveillance in the WPSO on Wednesday evening, to intercept contraband that was intended to be smuggled into the jail.

Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the WPSO said that information provided to the drug agents indicated that Shirae Gabrelle Brister, 26, a resident of Azalea Court in Bogalusa, would attempt to introduce contraband into the jail during visitation hours that night. The contraband was reportedly intended for her boyfriend, inmate Michael Miller, 30, a Bogalusa resident who was last arrested on Oct. 5, 2017, for a variety of drug related charges. The plan to introduce contraband into the jail was discovered by jail personnel, Haley said.

Agents surveilled Brister as she drove around Franklinton and then entered the WPSO parking lot with the contraband items concealed in a fast food restaurant bag as Miller had allegedly directed her to do, Haley said. She exited with the bag in hand and entered the jail lobby.

Haley said she then exited quickly with the bag and placed it back in her car. Agents approached her vehicle and detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. A subsequent search of Brister’s car revealed the fast food bag which contained both tobacco and marijuana, Haley said.

Brister was then arrested and booked into the Washington Parish Jail, charged with possession of marijuana and attempted introduction of contraband. She was released from jail Thursday after posting a $10,000 bond.

This was not Brister’s first stay in the jail. On Nov. 2, 2017, she was arrested for possession with intent to distribute Schedule I and Schedule II drugs, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with a weapon present. She was in and out of jail the same day after posting a $20,000 bond.

Brister’s boyfriend, Miller, was arrested again inside the jail and charged with attempted introduction of contraband. This is another charge Miller must face including his current charges of possession of marijuana, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, three counts of failure to appear, three counts of distribution of Schedule I drugs, two counts of distribution of Schedule II drugs and possession with intent to distribute Schedule III drugs. Miller remains in jail on those charges with his bond set at $860,500.

Haley said this is Miller’s fourth stay in the Washington Parish Jail. His first arrest in May of 2007 was for possession of stolen property, possession of marijuana and resisting an officer. He spent three days in jail before posting a $12,750 bond for his release.

Miller’s second arrest was February of 2009 when he spent another few days in jail for failure to appear, no seat belt, no driver’s license and resisting an officer. He posted a $10,850 bond and was released.

His third arrest was in August of 2011 on charges of attempted 2nd degree murder, illegal discharge of a weapon, aggravated criminal damage to property, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and no seat belt. He remained in jail approximately six weeks before posting a $100,000 bond for his release.

Sheriff Randy Seal commented on the incident and arrests.

“Persons who possess a criminal mindset never stop trying, even while they are in jail,” Seal said. “Miller is a career criminal and it seems that Brister is doing her best to be the same. Three great groups of people combined their efforts to prevent this contraband from entering the jail.

“Our fine jail personnel, our Drug Task Force agents and our partner Drug Enforcement Agency officers did an outstanding job. Even while our good citizens are enjoying the comforts of home, our officers are on duty and working hard to protect and serve everyone in Washington Parish.”