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A Hempstead County Sheriff's Department detention officer has been fired and five Arkansas ACT 309 inmates sent back to the state prison system as the result of a probe into contraband smuggled into the Hempstead County Detention Center, Sheriff James Singleton said today.
Maintenance supervisor Lieutenant Kevin Melson was terminated by Singleton for violation of detention center security policies, the Sheriff said.
“He basically was in charge of the maintenance crew, and a couple of the inmates involved were on the maintenance crew,” Singleton said.
He said no criminal charges are being brought in connection with the investigation.
“It's all a matter of policy violations,” he said.
Singleton said Melson was the only detention employee involved in the incident.
Singleton said the investigation into contraband smuggling at the jail stemmed from the discovery of a cell phone, an I-Pod, a small plastic baggie with a minute amount of what was believed to be marijuana in it, and several adult DVDs.
He did not say when the investigation was conducted.
“After an investigation by Hempstead County investigators into the smuggling of contraband into the Hempstead County Detention Center, five state ACT 309 inmates assigned to the detention center were sent back to the Arkansas Department of Corrections last week after detention officers discovered several items of contraband,” Singleton said.
ACT 309 inmates are housed in county jails across the state based upon the non-violent nature of their offenses and their incarceration record; and, they are allowed to act as trusty-type inmates in county jail operations.
Singleton said part of the contraband probe arose from a security camera video of a 309 inmate returning from the Arkansas State Police Troop G headquarters on Hazel Street. He said the inmate was caught on camera attempting to discard an alleged drug pipe after returning from the ASP facility.
“The pipe was discovered in a trash can,” Singleton said. “During the investigation, all 13 ACT 309 inmates assigned to the detention center were drug tested; one tested positive for illegal substances; three inmates admitted to using drugs while on furlough and while at the detention center; and, one admitted to having the cell phone and I-Pod.
“None of the five inmates admitted to possessing the baggie containing the substance believed to be marijuana,” he said.
Singleton said the remaining eight 309 inmates tested negative for drugs and were returned to work assignments.
The five inmates involved in the contraband smuggling were returned to individual cells, and later transported back to ADC, where they were to be reassigned to different prison units and subject to disciplinary proceedings, he said.
Singleton said Hempstead County has been assigned five new ACT 309 inmates to replace those sent back to ADC.
A Hempstead County Sheriff's Department detention officer has been fired and five Arkansas ACT 309 inmates sent back to the state prison system as the result of a probe into contraband smuggled into the Hempstead County Detention Center, Sheriff James Singleton said today.
Maintenance supervisor Lieutenant Kevin Melson was terminated by Singleton for violation of detention center security policies, the Sheriff said.
“He basically was in charge of the maintenance crew, and a couple of the inmates involved were on the maintenance crew,” Singleton said.
He said no criminal charges are being brought in connection with the investigation.
“It's all a matter of policy violations,” he said.
Singleton said Melson was the only detention employee involved in the incident.
Singleton said the investigation into contraband smuggling at the jail stemmed from the discovery of a cell phone, an I-Pod, a small plastic baggie with a minute amount of what was believed to be marijuana in it, and several adult DVDs.
He did not say when the investigation was conducted.
“After an investigation by Hempstead County investigators into the smuggling of contraband into the Hempstead County Detention Center, five state ACT 309 inmates assigned to the detention center were sent back to the Arkansas Department of Corrections last week after detention officers discovered several items of contraband,” Singleton said.
ACT 309 inmates are housed in county jails across the state based upon the non-violent nature of their offenses and their incarceration record; and, they are allowed to act as trusty-type inmates in county jail operations.
Singleton said part of the contraband probe arose from a security camera video of a 309 inmate returning from the Arkansas State Police Troop G headquarters on Hazel Street. He said the inmate was caught on camera attempting to discard an alleged drug pipe after returning from the ASP facility.
“The pipe was discovered in a trash can,” Singleton said. “During the investigation, all 13 ACT 309 inmates assigned to the detention center were drug tested; one tested positive for illegal substances; three inmates admitted to using drugs while on furlough and while at the detention center; and, one admitted to having the cell phone and I-Pod.
“None of the five inmates admitted to possessing the baggie containing the substance believed to be marijuana,” he said.
Singleton said the remaining eight 309 inmates tested negative for drugs and were returned to work assignments.
The five inmates involved in the contraband smuggling were returned to individual cells, and later transported back to ADC, where they were to be reassigned to different prison units and subject to disciplinary proceedings, he said.
Singleton said Hempstead County has been assigned five new ACT 309 inmates to replace those sent back to ADC.
