Prisoner faces new drug charges after funeral incident

A Lake County jail inmate is facing new charges after officers stopped him from swallowing a condom at his father’s funeral that allegedly contained heroin, drug paraphernalia and money. 

Lake County detention officers were transporting Michael Assiniboine Jr. to and from his father’s funeral in St. Ignatius on Friday afternoon when the incident occurred, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office.

As the service wrapped up, officers began patting down Assiniboine to prepare him for transportation back to detention. During the search officers noticed he had something hidden in his hand.

Assiniboine allegedly refused to let go of the item clutched in his hands and the resist soon turned into a struggle with officers. During the fight the prisoner was able to shove the condom in his mouth and bite the hand of one of the officers.

Officers deployed a Taser several times before they were able to pull the condom out of Assiniboine’s mouth; the condom allegedly contained drugs and money, according to the release.

Throughout the service Assiniboine was dressed in an orange Lake County Detention jumpsuit. He was handcuffed with a belly chain and was anklecuffed to prevent escape. Officers also kept Assiniboine in immediate reach throughout the ceremony, even as he gave hugs goodbye to his family members when he prepared to leave.

It was after he hugged his loved ones that officers saw Assiniboine holding onto the condom.

The inmate is facing charges of felony possession of dangerous drugs, assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest. Assiniboine already was jailed on original charges of two counts of burglary, theft, felony possession of dangerous drugs, resisting arrest, bail jumping and criminal contempt.