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EBENSBURG -- A Cambria County Prison inmate faces new charges after he allegedly flushed mail containing a chemical used to make bath salts down a toilet.
Jamal Myers, 29, an inmate at the jail, faces a felony charge of hindering apprehension and destroying evidence, as well as a misdemeanor of tampering with evidence, for the alleged incident Wednesday.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Cambria County Detective Bureau, authorities were investigating mail sent to an inmate named Alexander Rodriguez-Melendez because it was believed to contain an illegal substance.
A Department of Corrections K-9 indicated that the mail contained a controlled substance, investigators said.
Later, a U.S. postal inspector used a machine to determine that it contained a chemical used in the making of bath salts, according to the complaint.
The mail was delivered to Rodriguez-Melendez, and he signed for it, investigators said.
When Rodriguez-Melendez allegedly took possession of the mail, he was arrested.
Papers contained within the mailed envelope fell onto the floor, and video surveillance footage shows that Myers collected them and took them to his cell, investigators said.
During a subsequent interview, Myers allegedly told investigators that he flushed the papers down a toilet in his cell.
Myers was moved to a "disciplinary housing unit."
Myers was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Rick Varner.
He remains in prison.
Myers is to appear for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. July 10 before Magisterial District Judge Frederick Creany.
On Friday afternoon, no charges against Rodriguez-Melendez appeared on online court records.
Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.