State now says firm was hired to fetch inmate
The two people arrested trying to board a flight for Hawaii with a handcuffed man at Los Angeles International Airport are employees of a company the state hired to transport a state inmate, said Jean Ireton, state Department of Public Safety deputy director for corrections.
James Propotnick, state Department of Public Safety deputy director for law enforcement, had said he does not hire private security to transport prisoners. But he said he can only speak for state sheriffs and that corrections officials might hire private security for inmate transport.
"Yes, we do, and yes, we did hire them," Ireton said.
She said she has yet to receive a report on the incident at LAX.
Ireton said her division does not often hire private security for prisoner transport. She said the two people in question work for Court Services Inc. and were transporting an inmate from Arizona. Hawaii has inmates in several mainland prison facilities, including Florence Correctional Center in Arizona.
Ireton said the inmate is now in Hawaii.
Los Angeles Airport Police Department officers arrested Rosemary Sanchez, 48, and Gary Garratt, 53, last Friday for allegedly impersonating peace officers. Sanchez was also arrested for carrying a concealed firearm.