Arrested man allegedly tried to smuggle drugs into jail under bandage

MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake man was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of being in possession of heroin, providing a fake name to law enforcement, and then attempting to smuggle Suboxone strips into the jail under an adhesive bandage.

Forest Tucker Lybbert, 33, was booked on charges of possession of a controlled substance, prisoner in possession of a controlled substance, third-degree driving while license suspended and making a false statement to law enforcement.

Lybbert was reportedly pulled over by law enforcement just after midnight on minor traffic infractions, but he allegedly provided a false name to officers, according to law enforcement.

Unable to release Lybbert without first identifying him, officers booked him into custody and allegedly discovered heroin in his pocket during a search. Shortly after, law enforcement reportedly located a full syringe on the floorboards of Lybbert’s vehicle.

During intake at the Grant County Jail, corrections officers performing a detailed search reportedly found Suboxone strips, a Schedule III opioid, hidden underneath a bandage on Lybbert’s chest.

Officers eventually were able to identify Lybbert and noted he had two outstanding warrants out for his arrest. However, noted Captain Mike Williams of the MLPD, Lybbert’s low-level offenses – third-degree driving while license suspended and outdoor burn of prohibited substances – would not have caused Lybbert’s arrest, due to current intake restrictions at the jail.

Instead, Williams said, Lybbert’s arrest and the subsequent discovery of narcotics were the result of his initial determination to provide a fake name to law enforcement.

The deputy that reportedly found the Suboxone under Lybbert’s bandage was not immediately available to comment on the discovery, but Williams said he wasn’t surprised that they had pulled off the discovery.

“They’ve seen just about every way you can think of to sneak dope into that jail,” Williams said.