Contraband Arrests at Multiple State Prisons

As of July 2010, The GDC Office of Professional Standards, in conjunction with local & federal law enforcement partners, have investigated or arrested approximately 869 staff and civilians for introducing contraband into prisons throughout the state.

On September 27, at Calhoun State Prison, Officer Joshua Washington attempted to clear the metal detector. The Portal Sergeant detected a marijuana odor coming from Officer Washington. The Sergeant then questioned Officer Washington about the marijuana odor. Officer Washington began to get uncomfortable and immediately walked out of the front entry door. After exiting the front entry door, Officer Washington removed 2 unidentifiable packages from under his uniform shirt and threw them on top of the front entry building. The Sergeant immediately notified the Warden and the shift supervisor. The items thrown on top of the building were retrieved and Officer Washington admitted to having contraband on his person when trying to clear the metal detector. The following contraband was retrieved: 2 Ziploc bags containing 621 grams of marijuana and 113 grams of methamphetamine. Officer Washington was arrested by Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and taken into custody, pending felony charges.

On September 30, at Rogers State Prison, a Tattnall County Police Sergeant made a traffic stop on Highway 147. The vehicle was searched and the following contraband wrapped in black electrical tape was discovered: 11 cellular phones, 11 chargers, and 48 balls of tobacco. The Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigation Division assisted Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office with the arrest of the driver, Sheroyl Brown, and the passenger, Christopher Harris. Brown and Harris were each charged with a felony.

On October 1, Riverbend Correctional Facility conducted a random vehicle check, checking all vehicles for unauthorized contraband. One of the canine dogs alerted the canine handler by barking aggressively at Dawn Bodie’s vehicle. The suspicious vehicle was then checked and the following items were discovered inside a small purse: 2 grams of meth, 1 gram of heroin, 11 syringes, and 2 cut straws. Visitor Bodie was arrested by the Milledgeville Police Department and taken to Baldwin County Jail. She will be charged with possession of meth, heroin, drug paraphernalia, and crossing the guard line.