Cell phones, drugs, knives found; cases being made against inmates and others
Officers bag up contraband found in jail
Homemade shank found in jail
This past Saturday officers with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and the Brewton Police Department conducted a shakedown at the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton that led to the seizure of multiple contraband items and the investigation continues into the inmates who possessed the items and how the items made it inside the county jail.
Sheriff Heath Jackson reported officers found 13 cell phones, six cell phone chargers, four homemade knives, a quantity of pills, three bags of tobacco, one bag of spice, four lighters, six books with hidden compartments and one tattoo gun.
As of Wednesday no charges have been filed as officers continue the investigation.
"We're writing up cases now," Sheriff Jackson said.
He added some of those found with contraband were federal inmates and that information has been turned over to the U.S. Marshal's office.
Jackson said steps have been taken to crackdown on contraband entering the jail.
"We've increased patrol around the building," Jackson said. "We are also doing complete searches of work release inmates who return to the jail."
Jackson also said he has employees monitoring outside surveillance cameras to see if anyone is dropping contraband outside the jail.
"If we find someone bringing contraband into the jail they will be arrested on the spot," Jackson said.
Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy said whether it's an inmate in possession of contraband or someone brining contraband into the jail charges can range from a misdemeanor to a Class B felony.
