Bishop accused of trying to deliver drugs and contraband to inmates at Fountain
Bishop
An Atmore pastor, who also worked for the Alabama Department of Corrections at the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore was arrested on multiple charges involving attempting to smuggle drugs and other items into the prison.
Vincent Bernard Bishop, 54, 1508 Medical Park Drive, Atmore, was arrested Dec. 5 by DOC officers and charged with trafficking synthetic drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana I, prohibited activity (attempting to bring cell phones into the prison, attempting to commit a controlled substance crime, attempting to promote prison contraband I) and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bishop, who serves as pastor of Destiny Worship Center in Atmore, was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton and later released on $500,000 bond.
According to reports from DOC, Bishop, who served as a drug counselor for the prison, was accused of attempting to smuggle drugs wrapped in a 'prison package' and contraband into the prison facility.
In a released issued by DOC, "K-9 personnel, following an ongoing investigation, observed suspicious activity involving inmates attempting to access a parking lot near Bishop's vehicle".
The report said a traffic stop was initiated and a K-9 had a positive alert on Bishop's vehicle. A search then revealed marijuana, flakka, tobacco, cell phones and charging cables under Bishop's vehicle.
The report noted that Bishop refused to resign from his position at the prison and was placed on leave.
Court records say officers seized 56 or more grams of the synthetic drug flakka, 28 grams of marijuana, a cell phone, cigars and digital scales from Bishop's vehicle.
