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Mule Creek ISU disrupts crime, contraband

April 20, 2026

At Mule Creek State Prison, the Investigative Services Unit (ISU) helps keep the institution safe, out of sight and behind the scenes.

Behind secured doors and away from the public eye, the ISU operates with a singular focus: stopping contraband. The ISU identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the flow of contraband and narcotics that threaten the safety of staff, incarcerated persons, and the surrounding community.

The Investigative Services Unit at Mule Creek State Prison stands in front of the historic Preston Castle, a former youth facility in Ione. — *Mule Creek State Prison’s Investigative Services Unit stand in front of the historic Preston Castle, a former youth facility in Ione.*

Led by Lt. Blake McTaggart, the ISU team has built a reputation for precision and persistence. Alongside him, Sergeants Tyler Scott and David Martin work daily to track patterns, analyze intelligence, and connect seemingly unrelated incidents into actionable cases.

“Every piece of information matters,” McTaggart explained. “What might look small on its own can be part of something much larger.”

Mule Creek ISU seizes $126k of narcotics

Narcotics found at Mule Creek State Prison by the Investigative Services Unit team.

Since June 2025, the ISU team has successfully intercepted narcotics with an estimated institutional value exceeding $126,000. But, according to staff, the impact goes far beyond dollar amounts.

“These aren’t just seizures,” said one team member. “Each one represents violence prevented, exploitation reduced, and a safer environment for everyone inside.”

A key component of that success is the institution’s K-9 unit. Sgt. Kenneth Jaquinot alongside K-9 Zippo and Officer River Benavides with K-9 Hunter are critical to detecting hidden contraband.

Hunter, trained to identify narcotics concealed in creative and often sophisticated ways, has been instrumental in multiple recent finds.

“The K-9 team gives us an edge,” said Jaquinot. “They can detect what we can’t see. That makes a difference every single day.”

The work doesn’t stop at the prison gates. Many of ISU’s investigations extend into the community, where partnerships with outside law enforcement agencies have led to numerous arrests tied to in-prison activity.

These cases often reveal organized efforts to introduce narcotics through visiting, mail, or coordinated drop-offs—networks that stretch well beyond the institution itself.

Sgt. Martin emphasized the importance of those connections.

“What starts here doesn’t stay here,” he said. “By working with our partners, we’re able to address the problem at its source.”

Fewer drug-related incidents, increased safety

Inside Mule Creek, the results are tangible. Reduced contraband means fewer drug-related incidents, fewer conflicts, and a more stable environment overall. For staff and incarcerated individuals alike, that stability translates into increased safety and improved day-to-day operations.

Sgt. Scott noted consistency is key.

“This isn’t a one-time effort. It’s constant,” Scott said. “We’re always analyzing, always adapting.”

ISU’s work is often complex and rarely visible to the public, but its effects are far-reaching. Each investigation, interdiction and arrest contributes to a broader mission extending beyond the walls of Mule Creek State Prison.