Police: Woman concealed heroin in private place

A woman accused of hiding tinfoil containing heroin inside her vagina will face jury trial this month.

Frankie V. Tower, 36, is being held in the Kootenai County jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance, knowingly attempting to introduce major contraband into a correctional facility, concealment of evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

During the June preliminary hearing, Coeur d’Alene police officer Alexander Mauri stated that he contacted Tower on May 4 while she was in the passenger seat of a vehicle parked outside a business in Ironwood Square.

He said he observed a “brown tar substance” in a clear plastic bag in the place where Tower was sitting.

After being read her Miranda rights, Mauri said Tower told him “she had foil shoved up her vagina,” according to court records.

Detention Deputy Catherine Echelberger said in court that she performed a pat search and a strip search on Tower at the Kootenai County jail.

“I took her clothing from her piece by piece,” Echelberger said. “She told me where she had the paraphernalia.”

Echelberger said that Tower removed a foil ball, about one inch in diameter, from inside her body, which was then placed in a baggie.

The foil was reportedly booked into evidence.

The trial is scheduled Sept. 21.