Sheriff’s officials said the man claimed he wanted to reach his girlfriend.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — A man accused of digging near the Oklahoma County jail was arrested after deputies learned he had an active warrant from another state, officials said.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy was near the Oklahoma County Detention Center when he saw 32-year-old Jake Minervini-Blue using a shovel by the jail’s south wall. Officials said the location and the digging prompted deputies to stop and question him.
Minervini-Blue told authorities his girlfriend was inside the jail, officials said. He also said he was trying to plant a flower. The sheriff’s office did not say how deep the hole was, how long he had been there or whether the wall was damaged.
After checking his identity, deputies found an out-of-state warrant and arrested him. He was taken into the Oklahoma County Detention Center, the same facility he had been found outside. Authorities did not report injuries, an escape attempt from inside or a broader security breach.
During booking, detention officers found a ferro rod hidden on Minervini-Blue, investigators said. The item is used to build fires. Officials did not say whether the ferro rod was connected to the digging or whether it would lead to a separate charge.
The case drew attention because officials described it as an unusual reversal of a typical jail security concern. Instead of a detainee trying to leave, deputies said they encountered a man outside the building trying to get closer to someone held inside.
Minervini-Blue remained in custody after the arrest, officials said. Prosecutors had not announced any new Oklahoma County charge in the first reports, and the out-of-state warrant will guide the next court or transfer steps.
Author note: Last updated June 15, 2026.