The officer was indicted by a federal grand jury. A correctional officer at Tabor Correctional Institution is under investigation following the overdose death of an inmate there, the Tabor City Police Department reports. But prison officials did release the monthly figures, which show that the prison had 211 officers available to work in April. A spokesperson for DPS provided the following statement when reached for comment: The Department of Public Safety has zero tolerance for any staff involved in any illegal activity and is cooperating fully in this ongoing investigation. The smuggling of drugs into prisons is a nationwide problem, not just a North Carolina problem. We'd love to hear from you. Bullard had been the associate warden for custody at the prison since December 2019. Many of the large maximum-security prisons such as Bertie and Lanesboro are located in rural areas, where recruiting can be difficult. category_id: null, Personnel records for the sergeant obtained by WECT indicate he started working at Tabor Correctional in December 2018 and had been with DPS since May 2014. 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.. Download the WWAY News and StormTrack 3 Weather Apps on your smart phone or tablet device to receive breaking news and weather push notifications the minute it happens. Its unclear whether better staffing would have saved Callahans life. After Orban left, the woman walked to a nearby business where she called Fontana police to report the incident, just after 7 p.m. map: false, The Charlotte Observer. The judge will determine what is done with the firearms after the trial. Cons Work related injuries or death caused by inmates. All rights reserved. More than 50 dosage units, 200 grams of the synthetic drug commonly known as K2/Spice was recovered, Conway said. COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - District attorney Jon David released a statement Wednesday on the N.C. Department of Public Safetys internal investigation after a Tabor Correctional inmate died of a suspected overdose amid allegations of correctional officers smuggling drugs into the prison. All rights reserved. The Department has many hard-working correctional professionals and it takes staff arrests very seriously. United States; Search; 2022; 2022 Honor Roll of Heroes. These allegations are under internal investigation as well. It was later determined that Orban telephoned Jelinek, who picked up Orban in Fontana and drove him back to the Ontario Mills parking lot, police said. At Lanesboro, 45 miles southeast of Charlotte, it was common for 42 officers to watch about 1,200 prisoners on the night shift, according to Gregory McCoy, who worked there as a correctional officer from 2009 to 2016. Callahan died, roughly one of every five CO positions at the prison was vacant, By Ames Alexander and Gavin Off Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. "[54], On April 24, 2017 an officer was arrested, accused of having sex with an inmate. 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. The other officer on shift with Thompson had been at Tabor Correctional since June 2019. Its a black eye to the law enforcement profession, Wilkins said. We absolutely and fully support prosecution of those responsible. But if another staff member had been standing beside the officer that morning, theres a possibility (Mosley) would have kept walking, McCoy said. Copyright 2021 WECT. Prison leaders say that when staff vacancies at a prison rise, they make adjustments, such as moving prisoners, reducing inmate programs and sending fewer staff members to special training. [48] Because of these charges, the sergeant resigned her position. During the search of the deceaseds cell two small suboxone strips were located in the inmates cell and were collected by prison staff.. The investigation continues in the case, the sheriff said. The prisons first responders performed lifesaving measures until local paramedics arrived who also worked to resuscitate the offender and pronounced Moore deceased at 4:56 a.m., a news release states. Conway said the investigation at TCI is ongoing. Jelinek has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation. That investigation includes support from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Maj. Russell Conway of the TCPD said Monday. 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 . Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. That works out to about one officer for every 29 inmates. 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. Thompson had been a correctional officer with Tabor Correctional since July 2018 before resigning Monday. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. There are no doubts drugs get into prisons despite extensive efforts to keep them out. 8 Corrections jobs available in Tabor City, NC on Indeed.com. 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. Said Gary Harkins, former research and information director for ACOIN: People can get killed when you dont have enough staff. All rights reserved. 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. Correctional Officer Wesley Thompson has been charged with trafficking synthetic cannabinoids inside Tabor Correctional Institution. (The officer) said that on that Tuesday night Thompson told her that he had a large amount and needed to get rid of it as soon as possible.. Madden resigned Friday from his post as a correctional officer at Tabor Correctional Institution, according to John Bull, a Communications officer for Prisons at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. [31], As reported by WECT in February 2014, the new Administrator was accused of forcing employees to pay the new Administrator for promotions through an Administrator-designed "fundraising" campaign. Jelinek stood by and watched as Orban pointed the gun at the victim and ordered her to drive away, police said. Had there been more, he said, one female officer might never have been assaulted. He resigned from his position on Monday. Derek C. Madden, 32, of Lumberton, was charged with two counts of trafficking opium or heroin, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule III controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, nine counts of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, according to the Robeson County Sheriffs Office. Moreover, we are seeking to determine if the recent death of an inmate by a suspected drug overdose is related to this activity. The inmate also provided a written statement that he received drugs from the sergeant, according to the report. There were 99 guns and enough fentanyl to kill thousands of people recovered from the home of a former Tabor Correctional Institution corrections officer. [32] After an internal investigation lasting only a few weeks, the state found no "wrongdoing" in the fundraising effort, but halted the program, until "state prison administrators and auditors can develop formal policy guidelines for employee fundraising activities.". The arrest can affect the image of all law enforcement personnel to the public, he said. 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. Dustin Goodson is the inmate who died from the suspected drug overdose at Tabor Correctional. 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. The original maximum number of inmates housed at the prison was 1,500. Angela Smith, who worked as an officer at Tabor Correctional Institution from 2010 to 2014, said she was often asked to work overtime because the prison was so understaffed. #ThisIsThePlace. text: "Promote your event", David Guice, the states chief deputy secretary for adult correction and juvenile justice, said he does not yet know whether better staffing at Bertie would have made any difference the day that Callahan was killed. And we dont have enough staff to fight back.. Prison in Tabor City, North Carolina, United States, Patsy Chavis era (February 22, 2012 - June 30, 2015), Learn how and when to remove this template message, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, "Tabor Correctional Institution - Cornerstone Detention Products", "Optimistic town manager: 'Tabor City is in the fight of its life', "Sunland Fire Columbus County Prison: Tabor City, NC", http://www.taborcitync.org/correctionalfacility.asp, "New correctional facility in Tabor city - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC", "New State Prison in Columbus County | WHQR", "Inmate labor builds new prison additions at greatly reduced costs", http://www.fayobserver.com/news/crime_courts/addition-at-tabor-city-prison-open-to-public-tours-saturday/article_2ca5426e-190a-5ea2-af9b-2042c3607bf1.html, http://www.doc.state.nc.us/NEWS/cnews/2008/july-aug%2008%20for%20web.pdf, "TWC News - Charlotte - Salisbury, Gastonia", "Prison Guard Salary | Averages, Ranges, and Starting", "McCrory budget plan includes pay raises for some, but not all", "Panama prison reform gets a boost from N.C. - Fayetteville Observer: News", http://www.doc.state.nc.us/NEWS/2007/releases/George%20Kenworth%20to%20Tabor.htm, "TABOR-LORIS TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2012 PAGE 3", "TABOR-LORIS TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2012 PAGE 3", "4th Annual Beach Wrestling State Championship wraps up at Carolina Beach", http://www.robesonian.com/view/full_story/6887871/article-2-prison-officers-charged-in-theft?instance=home_news_lead, "US NC: Two Prison Guards Charged With Trafficking Prescription Meds", "North Carolina Department of Public Safety", "20 bags of pot, 4 cell phones discovered in hole near jail", "Prison guard charged for sex offense and providing tobacco to an - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC", "Fundraising campaign at Tabor prison under investigation", "Investigation of questionable prison fundraising complete", "State tight-lipped about death of inmate suspected of drinking 'homemade brew', "WECT Investigates: Fast food delivered to inmates - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC", "McCrory brokered meeting on contract for friend and campaign donor | News & Observer", "Prison guard arrested in robbery, beheading plot - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC", "Federal grand jury indicts Tabor City prison guard", "Correctional officer arrested for providing drugs to inmate - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC", http://www.fayobserver.com/news/crime_courts/tabor-city-correctional-officer-accused-of-giving-drugs-to-inmate/article_74d52d84-a035-51f1-a1ac-c6b5d23e3643.html, "State: Tabor City prison guard 'appropriately reassigned' follow - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC", "Behind Bars: Why prison workers were fired", "Tabor City correctional officer faces larceny charges after incident at UNC medical facility", "Correctional officer was convicted a year before prison hired her", "Tabor Correctional sergeant resigns following arrest on drug charges", "New Hanover Co. Madden was placed in the Robeson County Detention Center under a $1,075,000 secured bond, according to the Sheriffs Office. Over the past four years, the Division of Prisons has: We educate, train and do everything possible to keep contraband out. [45] During the same month, WECT reported that an officer was charged, while on duty, with stealing over $30,000 in property and cash from an employee at the UNC Hospital's Ambulatory Care Center. "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. 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. widget: true, It puts officers lives in danger to be honest., The inmates literally say, You all are understaffed, so if we wanted to, we could overtake this prison. . All rights reserved. The stamp, if used on mail sent to inmates, restricts law enforcement personnel and prison workers from opening mail prior to the delivery to inmates, Wilkins said. 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. As soon as we plug a hole in one area, offenders find a work around. (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. } researches product purchases and suppliers. [56], As administrator, Brad Perrit was cited for failing to properly document use of a state vehicle. Geo resource failed to load. The staffing shortages also put officers in danger, Smith said. The second officer admitted she knew about Thompsons drug activity. He is being held on suspicion of carjacking and as an accessory to the crime, and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.. Two other correctional officers at the Institution have resigned, but they do not face any charges at this time. [37], WECT reported that in late November 2014 a prison guard was arrested by the FBI for conspiring to rob an armored vehicle. The FBI was conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident as of November 2015. During the home search, 24,000 milligrams of fentanyl were recovered, which is enough to kill 12,000 people, Wilkins said. Local law enforcement, either a police department or sheriffs office, is called whenever anyone is caught trying to smuggle in drugs. Go. NC prison officer planned to behead 2 people. Perritt has a 21-year prison work history, most of which has been in corrections. Contents 1 Construction 2 Operation A criminal investigation is underway after an inmate was attacked early Wednesday morning at Tabor Correctional Institution. She earned an extra $36,500 in overtime that year, records show. 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. Some correctional officers have more than doubled their income by working overtime. 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. She then called Ontario police. [42], In April 2015, a WECT expose showed why five officers had been terminated and also announced the retirement of Chavez. On Nov. 18, the day after Goodson was pronounced dead, investigators again met with Bullard, who showed them videos from the night Goodson apparently overdosed. The other officer on shift with Thompson had been at Tabor Correctional since June 2019. Moore was arrested in September and charged in connection to a murder in Charlotte and another in Greensboro. Enter https://www.corrections1.com/ and click OK. Your morale goes down," she said. The FBI foiled the 2014 plot . Nine of the 99 weapons recovered were stolen, he said. WINDSOR, N.C. Bertie Correctional Institution was understaffed the month that Sgt. April 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. WESTMINSTER - An off-duty Westminster police officer and an off-duty state corrections officer were arrested Saturday night in connection with a carjacking, kidnapping . When your shift starts at 5:30 a.m. and you work 12 hours and you get told you're held over till 9 (p.m.) you're not alert. I think if I hadnt gotten over there in time, (Mosley) probably would have cut her throat, McCoy said. The pay is low an average of the about $35,000 annually at maximum-security prisons and the work is dangerous and demanding. On Nov. 18, the day after Goodson was pronounced dead, investigators again met with Bullard, who showed them videos from the night Goodson apparently overdosed. A spokesperson for DPS provided the following statement when reached for comment: The Department of Public Safety has zero tolerance for any staff involved in any illegal activity and is cooperating fully in this ongoing investigation. "Warden Bullard is an exceptional, insightful leader with deep knowledge of the prison and how the prison system . During the course of the investigation and search a quantity of cocaine, fentanyl, suboxone strips, methadone, prescription pills, drug paraphernalia, U.S. Currency and 99 firearms were located and seized, according to the Sheriffs Office. In 2014, a Lanesboro officer was paid $29,800 but made another $35,600 in overtime.