Suspect Arrested For Providing Meth to Incarcerated Individual, Causing His Death

Published 1:30 am Thursday, August 24, 2023

On August 24, 2023, OPNET Detectives arrested 40-year-old Olalla resident Lauren N. Smith and booked her into the Clallam County Jail on multiple felony charges, including Controlled Substances Homicide, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, and Introducing Contraband in the 2nd Degree.

Through investigation, Smith was identified as the individual who provided methamphetamine to an incarcerated individual at Clallam Bay Corrections Center (CBCC), causing his overdose death.

The case began on August 13, 2023, when CBCC staff responded to a cell for an incarcerated individual exhibiting the signs of a drug overdose. Staff attempted life-saving efforts, but were unable to revive the incarcerated individual, who was identified as a 32-year-old Yakima resident Kody L. Swearngin.

A Deputy Coroner with the Clallam County Coroner’s Office arrived and took evidential samples from the deceased. Those samples indicated a positive result for methamphetamine.

Investigators from the Department of Corrections (DOC) Investigation and Intelligence Unit (IIU) reviewed records and video surveillance, which revealed that Smith had conducted a visit with Swearngin just hours prior to his death. Further video review revealed that Smith had provided a small package to Swearngin during the visit, which Swearngin had swallowed.

On Aug. 16, 2023, an autopsy was performed, at which time the package was recovered from Swearngin’s stomach. OPNET detectives administered a preliminary test of the substance within the package, which showed a positive result for the presence of methamphetamine. More in-depth laboratory testing is pending.

On Aug. 24, 2023, investigators located Smith at a residence in the 15500 block of Cedar Park Road SE, in Olalla, Washington. When Smith refused to exit the residence, OPNET detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence, entered, and took Smith into custody without incident.

A person commits the crime of Controlled Substance Homicide when they unlawfully deliver a controlled substance, which is used by the person to whom it was delivered and results in the death of the user. (RCW 69.50.415) OPNET reminds anyone considering delivering controlled substances that each time they do so, they are potentially committing the crime of Controlled Substances Homicide.

OPNET was assisted in the investigation and arrest by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, the Port Angeles Police Department, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Corrections, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The charges contained in this document are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) is a multi-agency team dedicated to the enforcement of narcotics laws in Clallam County and Jefferson County.

Agencies dedicating investigators to the team include the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles Police Department, Sequim Police Department, United States Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Port Townsend Police Department. OPNET’s primary focus is removing drug dealers from our community by

identifying, locating, apprehending, and prosecuting offenders who deliver illegal narcotics such as heroin and methamphetamine.