Investigators: Social worker smuggled contraband into Racine County Jail, had relationship with inmate

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A 36-year-old social worker has been arrested, accused of smuggling contraband into the Racine County Jail. 

According to the Racine County Sheriff's Office, on Nov. 3, a shakedown within the jail located a cellphone inside inmate Tarvis Koker's cell. Staff then found a USB charger for the phone, Oxycodone pills, a lighter, tobacco, rolling papers, a makeshift smoking pipe, three pens and two razors in inmate Andrew Crutcher's waistband. 

Officials interviewed another inmate who stated Crutcher had a relationship with the director of mental health services, Brittany Perez. The inmate, according to authorities, stated Perez was smuggling contraband into the jail and providing it to Crutcher. 

Authorities said Perez is a contract employee and clinical social worker who has been employed at the jail since June 2023.

Perez is a contract employee and enters the jail through the professional entrance where there are contraband warnings. Perez would have had to conceal the contraband to get it past the correctional officers.

Investigators downloaded the data from the cellphone that was found in the jail and located a string of text messages between Crutcher and Perez. Authorities say the two were messaging each other regularly and were engaging in a romantic relationship. 

Perez was arrested on Nov. 4 and being held on two counts of delivering an article to an inmate with a $10,000 bail. 

Charges against Koker and Crutcher were also referred to the Racine County District Attorney's Office.