A detention officer at the El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department was arrested on a drug charge after allegedly dropping a bag of cocaine at work, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said.
Jacob Paul Montes, 49, a detention officer, was arrested on a charge of having a prohibited item in a correctional facility, stated a news release issued by sheriff’s spokeswoman Priscilla I. Contreras on Monday, Jan. 26.
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Detention officer Jacob Paul Montes of the El Paso County Juvenile Probation allegedly dropped a bag of cocaine at work and was arrested on a charge of having a prohibited item in a correctional facility on Jan. 22, 2026.
The Sheriff’s Office stated that an investigation started on Thursday, Jan. 22, when deputies assigned to the Juvenile Probation Department were notified by detention staff that a “white powdery substance,” which later tested positive for cocaine, was found in a secure area of the center, located at 6400 Delta Drive next to Ascarate Park.
The juvenile detention facility currently holds about 33 detainees, according to the department’s website.
A review of security video allegedly showed Montes dropping on the floor a clear plastic bag containing an unspecified amount of cocaine, sheriff’s officials stated.
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Montes was arrested on Thursday, booked into the El Paso County Jail in Downtown and released that same day on a $5,000 surety bond, according to jail records. No attorney is listed for him on court records.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso detention officer arrested on drug charge at juvenile center