Lauren Smith

Lauren Smith

Arrest made in Clallam Bay prisoner death

Olalla woman accused of controlled substances homicide

CLALLAM BAY – An Olalla woman has been arrested and booked into the Clallam County jail in connection with the Aug. 13 death of a prisoner at the Clallam Bay Corrections Center, according to the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Task Force.

Lauren N. Smith, 40, was arrested on Thursday for investigation of several felonies, including controlled substances homicide, delivery of a controlled substance and introducing second-degree introducing contraband, the release stated.

According to the state RCW, “controlled substance homicide” is when a person “unlawfully delivers a controlled substance, which is used by the person to whom it was delivered and results in the death of the user.”

Clallam Bay staff called in “advanced lift support/CPR in progress” at about 6 p.m. Aug. 13 for an inmate who was not breathing, according to an Aug. 15 email from Clallam County Sheriff Brian King.

The inmate, later identified as 32-year-old Yakima resident Kody L. Swearngin, was declared deceased by the medical staff and a Clallam County deputy arrived about 7 p.m. that night to begin the death investigation, the OPNET release stated.

A deputy coroner with the Clallam County Coroner’s Office arrived and took evidence samples from the prisoner that later tested positive for methamphetamine, OPNET said.

Investigators from the Department of Corrections Investigation and Intelligence Unit reviewed records and video surveillance that revealed Smith had visited Swearngin just hours prior to his death, the release stated. Further review of video showed Smith provided Swearngin with a small package, which he swallowed, the release added.

An autopsy was performed on Aug. 16 and the package was recovered from Swearngin’s stomach, according to the release. A preliminary test came back positive for methamphetamine. More in-depth laboratory testing is pending.

Investigators located Smith on Aug. 24 at a residence in the 15500 block of Cedar Park Road SE in Olalla,they said, adding that when she refused to exit, detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence and arrested her without further incident.

________

Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.

More in News

Tracy Ryan, a nurse at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, stands in front of one of the hospital’s maternity ward rooms. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)
Rural maternity wards are struggling to stay afloat

State and federal lawmakers are trying to help

Jefferson County approves transportation plan

Six-year improvement outlook budgeted for more than $94M

Rainwater collection presentation canceled

The Rainwater Collection 101 presentation scheduled for 6:30 p.m.… Continue reading

Rear Admiral Charles E. Fosse, right, U.S. Coast Guard District 13 commander, was the guest speaker at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Angeles’ annual Veterans Day celebration on Monday. Chaplain Mike VanProyen, left, and Kelly Higgins, the commanding officer at Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, also participated in the ceremony. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds gather in Port Angeles to honor service members

High school band, choral groups highlight event

Former Marine Joseph Schwann of Port Townsend smiles as he receives a Quilt of Valor from Kathy Darrow, right, and another member of Quilts of Valor during the Veterans Day event at the American Legion Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 in Port Townsend on Monday. Group leader Kathey Bates, left, was the emcee of the event. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Quilts of Valor

Former Marine Joseph Schwann of Port Townsend smiles as he receives a… Continue reading

Port Townsend ethics complaint dismissed

Officer examines argument on open meetings

Friends of the Library to host annual meeting

The Port Angeles Friends of the Library will conduct… Continue reading

Peninsula College to stage ‘The Thanksgiving Play’

Peninsula College will present its production of “The Thanksgiving… Continue reading

Ceramic sculpture “Flora-Fauna” by Thomas Connery.
Library to host reception for ‘Second Look’ exhibition

The North Olympic Library System will host a reception… Continue reading

Sequim City Council members finalized through their consent agenda to ban the sale of fireworks effective October 2025. They held a public hearing last month that garnered mostly support for the ban. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim finalizes ban on fireworks

Ordinance change will go into effect next October

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Rich Krebsbach, manager of the Highland Irrigation District, asks questions of Rhiana Barkie, Clallam County public works project coordinator. The map is one of four new options for the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir project. Public input is being taken through the county’s website at https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/188/Dungeness-Off-Channel-Reservoir-Project.
Sequim reservoir project draws crowd, questions

Clallam County, FEMA public comment period open through Nov. 21