Wesley Thompson, 24, of Twin Pines Road, Whiteville, was charged after another correctional officer discovered contraband hidden in a podium in the close custody (maximum security) section at the state prison west of Tabor City, Maj. Russell Conway of the Tabor City Police Department said. Published: Nov. 23, 2021 at 1:28 PM PST COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - The state Department of Public Safety has launched an internal investigation after a Tabor Correctional inmate died of a suspected overdose amid allegations of correctional officers smuggling drugs into the prison. We value and appreciate the difficult jobs that prison guards perform, and we will not allow the criminal actions of a few to compromise the safety of the prison environment for all.. He ran over and subdued the prisoner. Copyright 2023 Corrections1. LUMBERTON A former Tabor Correctional Institution officer has been charged with multiple drug offenses after a Thursday search of his home yielded enough fentanyl to kill thousands of people and the discovery of 99 firearms, according to the Robeson County Sheriffs Office. The officer added that she discouraged Thompson from bringing drugs into the prison and denied being a look out for Thompson when questioned about her appearing to be so in the video footage. The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named two new prison administrators. [29] During this administrator's time, the small annex housing up to 252 minimum security inmates was opened. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though the State Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe in the matter. But, not all law enforcement officers should take on the bad image produced by some officers, he said. [18], In May 2014 TCI was visited by high ranking Panama officials to review the operation of the prison. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. Pressley rushed to be by her sons side at the hospital where she heard his last heartbeat. (The officer) also said that Thompson told her that he was bringing the drugs into the prison by hiding it in the soles of his boots. A short time later, Orban and Jelinek were positively identified as the suspects responsible for the carjacking, kidnap and rape, Ontario police said in a statement. The inmate also provided a written statement that he received drugs from the sergeant, according to the report. Inmate Craig Wissink, who has been serving a life sentence for murder since 2004, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Callahans death. The officer was indicted by a federal grand jury. TABOR CITY, NC (WWAY) In Columbus County, an investigation is ongoing after one Tabor City prisoner died of an overdose, two correctional officers resigned, and one was arrested for. He was arrested and charged with trafficking synthetic cannabinoids into the prison. The Tabor Correctional Institution, also known as Tabor City Prison, is a prison within the North Carolina Department of Public Safety located in Tabor City, North Carolina. It also revealed this administrator submitted a resignation effective June 30, 2015. High School Job Shadowing Program/Senior Projects, Two Chadbourn police officers receive heroism awards for saving lives during fires, Emergency personnel, community partners conduct active shooter training at East Columbus High, #UNSOLVED: Shining light on cold cases in the Cape Fear, a WWAY special report, 'Teacher of the Month' dedicates life to special needs students after high school internship. While speaking about Goodson, Bullard mentioned prison staff had found more drugs under a podium in a unit. Local law enforcement, either a police department or sheriffs office, is called whenever anyone is caught trying to smuggle in drugs. Corrections1 is revolutionizing the way in which the corrections community finds relevant news, These allegations are under internal investigation as well. category_id: null, They stopped in Fontana, near Base Line Road and the 15 Freeway, in a commercial complex. Lexipol. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. In June 2014, a separate facility was added to the prison complex, housing an additional 252 minimum custody level inmates[16] making it one of the largest prisons in the state. Working at Tabor Correctional Institution: 7 Reviews - Indeed The staffing shortages also put officers in danger, Smith said. At other prisons of comparable size, officers told the Observer, its common for about 50 or 60 officers to work the day shift. Investigators spoke with an Assistant District Attorney, who requested an autopsy be performed on Goodson. The smuggling of drugs into prisons is a nationwide problem, not just a North Carolina problem. TABOR CITY, N.C. (WECT) -Three correctional officers are off the job amid allegations of drug smuggling and after an inmate died from an apparent overdose. There has been no evidence indicating that either suspect represented themselves as police officers during the commission of the crimes.. Bertie Correctional Institution was understaffed in the month that Sgt. 8 Corrections jobs available in Tabor City, NC on Indeed.com. Synthetic cannabinoids, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration online Drug Fact Sheet says, mimic THC, the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana.. Three correctional officers resign amid drug smuggling allegations and About 60 inmates were also near Callahan when she was attacked on April 26, Jernigan said. WESTMINSTER An off-duty Westminster police officer and an off-duty state corrections officer were arrested Saturday night in connection with a carjacking, kidnapping and rape of a 25-year-old restaurant employee in Ontario, police said. The cost to build the prison was approximately $94million,[9] although the use of inmate labor greatly reduced what this amount would have been if private contractors had been used. He definitely shouldnt have had this.. Inmate overdose death prompts TCI investigation - Tabor-Loris Tribune [57], In October 2019, a Corrections officer was accused of hitting two students with a car,[58] while another was accused of breaking into a house. At Bertie, Callahan was responding to a fire set inside a trash can on the evening of April 26 when an inmate beat her to death with the fire extinguisher shed brought to douse the flames, state officials say. Moreover, we are seeking to determine if the recent death of an inmate by a suspected drug overdose is related to this activity. Jelinek has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation. Dawe, whose group shares research to help correctional officers, said that prison leaders who operate without sufficient staff roll the dice with peoples lives.. They are asking that anyone who has information to contact the Ontario Police Department at (909) 395-2908. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though the State Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe in the matter. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though . Lumberton, NC 28358, Lumberton, NC News, Obituaries, classifieds, and Sports. Officers said excessive overtime work can leave them burned out and exhausted. View Statistics for Year 2022. . When Callahan was attacked, two other officers were nearby, according to Anthony Jernigan, who heads the State Bureau of Investigation office that covers northeastern North Carolina. David McBride of the Ontario Police Department. [47], Later in June 2015, a Correctional Sergeant, from the prison was charged with multiple drug related offenses. Jelinek is a four-year officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. submission: { One correctional officer has been charged, and two others have resigned in the wake of the overdose death of an inmate at Tabor Correctional Institution. The original maximum number of inmates housed at the prison was 1,500. He was just talking about how he missed his family and he was just ready to be home with us, Pressley said. Weve got to find a way to retain the people who work for us, Guice said. Bullard said that they thought that (the sergeant) had brought the drugs into the prison for (the other inmate), the report states. Two other correctional officers at the Institution have resigned, but they do not face any charges at this time. (The sergeant) also asked another staff member to bring him his belongings from his office, officers wrote in the report. Statewide, about 16 percent of officer positions are vacant. [36], In late October 2014, according reports from the Raleigh News and Observer in which the maintenance department of the prison head met with Governor Pat McCrory to extend the maintenance contracts beyond their expiration dates. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned, and one of them faces a charge of trafficking synthetic cannabinoids . Orban and Jelinek were arrested and booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Bullard also said the sergeant left work early that day after he was questioned and had not returned to work since. . "The health and safety of the staff and the offender population is our top priority." Prison leaders plan to examine many factors, including staffing patterns, Guice said. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. District Attorney issues statement on Tabor Correctional investigation Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Stephen Jacobs as the new warden of Tabor Correctional Institution in Tabor City. But prison officials did release the monthly figures, which show that the prison had 211 officers available to work in April. Thompson asked to speak to his attorney when interviewed. This is usually something we see on legal mail, Wilkins said. Dustin chose to be a donor because thats just the way he was he was always helping people and ultimately, I think he saved like five lives with his donations, Pressley said. [55], In June 2017, an inmate assigned to a work detail at a second prison escaped. Maddens arrest comes after the recent arrests of three Robeson County detention officers in April for charges of identity theft. As soon as we plug a hole in one area, offenders find a work around. 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The other suspect is Jeff Thomas Jelinek, 30, an officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said Sgt. Those officers must cover two shifts and a number of them are off, sick or on vacation at any given time so only a fraction of the total staff was likely available to work the day shift on April 26. News - Page 11 - Tabor-Loris Tribune Law Enforcement Line of Duty Deaths in 2022 - The Officer Down Memorial There were children in the home and most of the guns were loaded at the time of the search, the sheriff said. All it would take is for five or ten guys to decide were going to take over the prison. November 24, 2021 WWAY News , COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - District attorney Jon David released a statement Wednesday on the N.C. Department of Public Safety's internal investigation after a Tabor Correctional inmate died. "[25], Some negative publicity was reported during this period by officers during this period were charged with committing theft,[26][27] and, in an unrelated case, a different officer was charged with dealing drugs, although not in the prison. The FBI was conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident as of November 2015. 2175 N. Roberts Ave, function evvntDiscoveryInit() { Bullard also said the sergeant left work early that day after he was questioned and had not returned to work since. Cop Suspended for Punching Latina As Police Reject 98% of - Newsweek One former officer, who rushed to a colleagues defense after she was slashed in the neck by an inmate at Lanesboro Correctional Institution, said the attack might have been prevented with more staff. And this time it came up snake eyes, he said. Video from the area showed Officer Wesley Thompson retrieve two packages from under the podium, place envelopes on top of them and deliver them to an inmates cell. We was really hoping for him to be home for Thanksgiving.. Search by Year. She will be spending the holidays grieving for her only son, but she can take some comfort in one decision Goodson made to change the lives of others as an organ donor. North Carolina. A criminal investigation is underway after an inmate was attacked early Wednesday morning at Tabor Correctional Institution. When you dont have adequate staff to manage the inmates, and theres an incident, unfortunately people can get hurt and sometimes people even die, Webster said. (The officer) said that Thompson had come to her and asked her if she wanted to make some extra money on several occasions but that she didnt want anything to do with it, investigators wrote in the report. Westminster detective arrested in 'brutal' rape Two new prison managers appointed | NC DPS [1] The prison opened in 2008. "His death is tragic, and we continue to work hard to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons," said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. Some correctional officers have more than doubled their income by working overtime. The state must pay a fee to the counties to house these inmates. The Department has many hard-working correctional professionals and it takes staff arrests very seriously. The cause of death was reported as having been natural causes,[34] however, a WECT report dated July 30, 2015 revealed that the cause of death was "methanol toxicity" from a concoction of chemicals including hand sanitizer that the inmate drank. [40] The officer was arrested by the Tabor City police department. If inmates wanted to jump another inmate or take somebody out that day, that would be the time to do it when youre understaffed., 2017 The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.). Surveillance video in the prison led investigators to Thompson and to an inmate, who was allegedly provided some of the drug, Conway said. During the search of the deceaseds cell two small suboxone strips were located in the inmates cell and were collected by prison staff.. RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) - Jamie Bullard has been named the new warden of Tabor Correctional Institution in Tabor City, the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice announced Monday. Theres just a few bad apples out there, he said. Cameron Keyon Green, 20, of Woodrow Street in Tabor City was shot and killed during an April 21 burglary in the 1000 block of Miller Road, Columbus County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Michelle Tatum said Friday. Jacobs, 53, had been the warden at Lumberton Correctional Institution in Lumberton since 2020. . Copyright 2021 WECT. Thompson has not been linked to the death of Goodson at this time. Correctional Officer Wesley Thompson has been charged with trafficking synthetic cannabinoids inside Tabor Correctional Institution. Thompson was booked at the Columbus County Detention Center Friday evening, his bond set at $25,000 secured, Conway said. [50], The first phase of the search for the replacement administrator began on 5/7/15. The new administrator, Patsy Chavis, was appointed to the post on February 22, 2012, despite having no experience as a custody officer in her official NCDPS biography. Horry County Coroner Robert Edge confirms a man was killed when his vehicle crashed into a power pole as he was being pursued by police. Meggan Callahan was killed there - allegedly by an inmate who beat her to death with a fire extinguisher. NC prison was understaffed when sergeant was beaten to death Please let me know if you encounter any resistance or unwillingness to pay.". There are no national standards for minimum staffing at prisons, experts say. "The prison's first responders performed lifesaving . Cons Work related injuries or death caused by inmates. More than 121 grams of synthetic marijuana was discovered during a search of the cell. Investigators filed their first report, with the crime/incident listed as negligent manslaughter, on Nov. 18, six days after an inmate, Dustin Goodson, was taken to the hospital by prison staff for a suspected drug overdose. The prison is located at 4600 West Swamp Fox Highway. When you see news happening, report it! EOW: Monday, January 10, 2022. Officials say that Malek Moore, 29, was found unresponsive in his cell shortly after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. North Carolina Prison guards are paid at the lower end of the national scale,[17] although North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory proposed in April 2015 significant increases in officer pay, although the raise may be partially based on the custody level of the prison. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, First Circuit: Surgery performed on inmate to locate alleged contraband a violation of the Fourth Amendment, Ala. police: Man gets ride home from jail, then kills 3 relatives and friend, Charges dropped against detainee after video showed beating by deputies inside Ga. jail, Inmate accused of slashing N.Y. corrections officer indicted, Open the tools menu in your browser. Prisons has a zero tolerance for the introduction of contraband to any prison from any source. Conway said the investigation at TCI is ongoing. Bertie isnt the only state prison with staffing problems. State prison leaders say they are holding many hiring events and partnering with schools and military bases to fill jobs. Inmate Dustin D. Goodson, 31, suffered an apparent overdose on Nov. 12 and was taken to McLeod Loris Hospital, where he was later declared brain dead. It houses over 1700 mixed classification inmates. Talk to WWAY's anchors, reporters and meteorologists. Educator Davis given Tabor Medal at TC chamber fete, Bog, broadcaster get historic recognition, US jet shoots down Chinese balloon in sight of the TLC, Loris singer brings sax to the CCMAs; Kindred honored, too, Arrests in Dothan murder include juvenile, victim IDd, Two sought in Soles murder case in custody Wednesday. An officer at Tabor Correctional Institution planned to rob an armored car. Three correctional officers resign amid drug smuggling allegations and The visit was also covered by the Tabor-Loris Tribune. The call came just hours after she had talked to her son. The Sheriffs Office will work with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine if more guns were stolen or if any were used in crimes. Im sure Im not the only one thats going through this. Prisons has a zero tolerance for the introduction of contraband to any prison from any source. [49], In addition, some commentators have included censorship as well as other deprivations as problems under this new leadership. We're your neighbors. [28], Once Kenworthy, first hired in 1982 as a corrections officer [21] retired after a long career with the North Carolina Department of Corrections, numerous controversies under the new leadership were reported. [33], Another issue, faced under the new Administrator's term in February 2014, was the death of a 39-year-old inmate, in which an autopsy was needed to determine the cause of death. The second officer admitted she knew about Thompsons drug activity. State prison officials refused to say how many staff were on duty the day Callahan died. More than 121 grams of synthetic marijuana was discovered during a search of the cell. All rights reserved. Meggan Callahan was killed there allegedly by an inmate who beat her to death with a fire extinguisher. She resigned last Friday. Speaking with officers on Nov. 16, Associate Warden Jamie Bullard said he was investigating a sergeant at the prison and another inmate. Fontana officers responded and determined that the investigation should be handled by Ontario police since the incident started there. He called me that Friday morning about 9:30 he called me and he was fine; he talked, we talked for the whole time the call would let us talk. [10], Early in 2014, an addition housing 252 minimum inmates opened, rasing the maximum number of inmates housed at Tabor Prison to 1,752. During this time. Moore was serving a nine-month sentence for parole violation at the time of his death. Said Gary Harkins, former research and information director for ACOIN: People can get killed when you dont have enough staff. (The sergeant) also asked another staff member to bring him his belongings from his office, officers wrote in the report. WINDSOR, N.C. Bertie Correctional Institution was understaffed the month that Sgt. Five inmates facing possible charges after inmate attacked at Tabor Mother reacts to news of son's apparent drug overdose at Tabor Correctional [46] WECT later reported this officer had been convicted of larceny a year before the prison hired her. Guns will be held for evidence until the trial, said sheriffs Maj. Damien McLean. The FBI foiled the 2014 plot . While this is a criminal investigation, the District Attorneys Office is coordinating closely with leadership at the Department of Public Safety to ensure that they have sufficient information to make important personnel decisions. Investigators then interviewed Thompson and another officer working his same shift. Jacobs began his career in 1993 as a correctional officer at the former Cabarrus Correctional Center. The gun was determined to belong to Orban, police said. WINDSOR, N.C. Bertie Correctional Institution was understaffed the month that Sgt. He resigned from his position on Monday. Ontario police met with Orban and Jelinek to take a report on the missing gun. The investigation continues in the case, the sheriff said. a case of possible exposure of tuberculosis was reported, although later testing proved negative. Callahan died, roughly one of every five CO positions at the prison was vacant, By Ames Alexander and Gavin Off Its as simple as that.. Many of the large maximum-security prisons such as Bertie and Lanesboro are located in rural areas, where recruiting can be difficult. It houses over 1700 mixed classification inmates. They might have had enough officers to subdue that inmate before he got that fire extinguisher from the sergeant, said Robert Webster, a former captain at two North Carolina maximum-security prisons. One of the most dangerous items recovered was the stamp with the words attorney-client privilege, McLean said. NC prison officer planned to behead 2 people. The incident began Saturday afternoon after the woman, who lives in San Bernardino County, left work at Ontario Mills Mall. [20] Kenworthy had been named as Administrator prior to the prison's opening on June 29, 2007.[21]. TABOR CITY, N.C. (WECT) - An inmate at Tabor Correctional Institution died of an apparent suicide, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety. Investigators then interviewed Thompson and another officer working his same shift.
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