Cole County deputies search jail inmates with new body scanner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Cole County Sheriff's deputies searched jail inmates on Saturday looking for illegal items.

According to a release from the sheriff's department, deputies completed 'Operation Clean Sweep' with help from the department's new body scanner.

Sheriff John Wheeler said 96 jail cells and 132 inmates were searched. The release shows no illegal substances were found.

County Commissioners approved the purchase for the x-ray scanner during a Dec. 3 meeting.

Meeting minutes show the commission awarded the $166,250 bid to Romaine Companies for an Adani ConPass security inspection system.

Documents show the county received four bids for the scanner.

Federal investigators are investigating how an inmate got a gun into the jail back in November. Brandon McNeese shot himself in the arm while at the jail on Nov. 25.

Investigators searched the jail after the shooting and didn't find any firearms. Authorities haven't said how McNeese got the gun inside the jail.