After a several-month long investigation local authorities have arrested a man they believe may have been bringing drugs into a local prison.
The joint investigation between the Marion Metro Drug Enforcement Unit and the Ohio State Highway Patrol resulted in the arrest of Najmuddeen Salaam.
Salaam is behind bars in Delaware County on drug charges. Investigators are looking into whether Salaam brought drugs to where he worked at the Marion Correctional Institution.
"He's got a kid, he spent time around the neighborhood with everybody. It's kind of just shocking,” Derrik Foster said.
Foster is the next door neighbor to Salaam. He said he never thought his neighbor would be arrested for drug possession.
“He just seemed like a normal guy, it's hard to believe,” Foster said. “He'd go out during the day and we thought he was going to work like everybody else.”
Salaam started working as a contractor for the Prison News Network at the Marion Correctional Institution in August of last year. The Ohio Department of Corrections said Salaam also provided sub-contracting services through the Win-Win Institute since 2014.
The Prison News Network is involved in producing video producing videos focused on programs, department training videos and community service projects.
Salaam is a registered sex offender in Marion County, and served almost 20 years in prison for rape.
In a statement, the Department of Corrections said, “In October 2014, DRC requested an exemption from the Prison Rape Elimination Act Standard regarding the hiring of ex-offenders. DRC is in the process of terminating any contract with Mr. Salaam.”
Investigators say Salaam traveled the state, giving speeches to people and inmates about rehabilitation. Marion Police Department Lt. Chris Adkins says at the same time, Salaam may have been bringing drugs inside the prison.
"From the hours of surveillance on him, it would appear that he was in fact taking drugs into the prison,” Adkins said.
The Marion Metro Drug Enforcement Unit and the Ohio State Patrol put Salaam in handcuffs Sunday, after being caught with 365 grams of cocaine and cash during a traffic stop.
"They said warrant. We could hear them yelling warrant throughout. They tried to knock on the front and back door before they even went in,” Foster said.
Foster and others heard police pound down Salaam’s front door during early hours Monday morning. Investigators served a search warrant when they nabbed the man they had been watching for months.
Investigators arrested Salaam in Delaware County, where he will be charged.