Bertie isnt the only state prison with staffing problems. The inmate also provided a written statement that he received drugs from the sergeant, according to the report. orientation: "portrait", [18], In May 2014 TCI was visited by high ranking Panama officials to review the operation of the prison. The San Bernardino County District Attorneys office has not received the case yet from Ontario police, and has until Tuesday to file charges, spokeswoman Susan Mickey said. 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. Raleigh May 3, 2021 The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Stephen Jacobs as the new warden of Tabor Correctional Institution in Tabor City. 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. They contended those numbers constitute sensitive public security information.. Its so dangerous, Gravitte said. All rights reserved. [35] According to the same news report, the department of public safety conducted an investigation, "but the results aren't public record. Year. The death of Rodriguez Jr., who left his job at California State Prison-Sacramento in. 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. [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. 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. 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. All rights reserved. As a part of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Prisons, it opened in 2008, and housed, as of July 2014, a maximum of 1,752 inmates,[15] providing over 500 jobs to the economically depressed area. The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named two new prison administrators. [59], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}341115N 785447W / 34.187404N 78.913036W / 34.187404; -78.913036. 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. He definitely shouldnt have had this.. Weve got to find a way to retain the people who work for us, Guice said. #ThisIsThePlace. [39], Also in November 2014. yet another officer was arrested for providing drugs to the inmates. Local law enforcement, either a police department or sheriffs office, is called whenever anyone is caught trying to smuggle in drugs. By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com A correctional officer at Tabor Correctional Institution is under investigation following the overdose death of an inmate there, the Tabor City Police Department reports. Sundland Fire also participated in the construction of the prison,[5] as did Bergelectric [6], TCI is located two miles (3km) northwest from the center of Tabor City, although it is considered a part of the city limits. Lexipol. The call came just hours after she had talked to her son. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. The Charlotte Observer. He was just talking about how he missed his family and he was just ready to be home with us, Pressley said. Bullard said that they thought that (the sergeant) had brought the drugs into the prison for (the other inmate), the report states. 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. The smuggling of drugs into prisons is a nationwide problem, not just a North Carolina problem. The District Attorneys Office has requested the State Bureau of Investigation to investigate allegations that multiple prison guards have brought illegal drugs into the Tabor Correctional Institution, David said in the statement. (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.. District Attorney issues statement on Tabor Correctional investigation, 3 hurt in crash involving motorcycle near Surfside Beach, Darlington fire captain recovering after cutting torch explosion, Panthers founder, former owner Jerry Richardson dies at 86, Runners arrive, prepare for Myrtle Beach Marathon, Police: 1 shot, body found in Forestbrook area, Everybody is cheering him on: Duo ready to rock and roll through Myrtle Beach Marathon, wmbf-publicfile@gray.tv - (843) 839-9623. }, He resigned from his position on Monday. [42], In April 2015, a WECT expose showed why five officers had been terminated and also announced the retirement of Chavez. Investigators then interviewed Thompson and another officer working his same shift. They are asking that anyone who has information to contact the Ontario Police Department at (909) 395-2908. It also revealed this administrator submitted a resignation effective June 30, 2015. Over the past four years, the Division of Prisons has: We educate, train and do everything possible to keep contraband out. [1] The prison opened in 2008. function evvntDiscoveryInit() { 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. (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. The Tabor Correctional Institution was constructed on a 37-acre site in east Tabor City, Columbus County. [43] It revealed that guards at the prison had been fired for unnecessary uses of force against an inmate, an officer having an inappropriate relationship with an inmate, for unsatisfactory job performance and sleeping while on duty, falsification of doctors' notes and being arrested and charged with first degree burglary. [7] A double fence surrounds the prison.[8]. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though the State Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe in the matter. [20] Kenworthy had been named as Administrator prior to the prison's opening on June 29, 2007.[21]. Inmate Donny Mosley, who is serving time for second-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon, had slashed her face and neck with a razor-like weapon. Guns will be held for evidence until the trial, said sheriffs Maj. Damien McLean. }. Upon the airing of the story, the Director of the North Carolina Division of Prisons suspended these activities, pending yet another review stating, "The Division of Prisons is surveying the activities of all service clubs across the prison system and developing more specific governing policies for these clubs to ensure that they are operating consistently and are providing true rehabilitative benefits." EOW: Monday, January 10, 2022. 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. The Department of Public Safety has zero tolerance for any staff involved in any illegal activity and is cooperating fully in this investigation. NC prison officer planned to behead 2 people. One of the most dangerous items recovered was the stamp with the words attorney-client privilege, McLean 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. But prison officials did release the monthly figures, which show that the prison had 211 officers available to work in April. [10], Early in 2014, an addition housing 252 minimum inmates opened, rasing the maximum number of inmates housed at Tabor Prison to 1,752. Investigators then interviewed Thompson and another officer working his same shift. 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. 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. a case of possible exposure of tuberculosis was reported, although later testing proved negative. "The prison's first responders performed lifesaving . Inmates were charged with assaulting officers on more than one occasion. }); Thompson had been a correctional officer with Tabor Correctional since July 2018 before resigning Monday. 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. Bullard also said the sergeant left work early that day after he was questioned and had not returned to work since. Conway said the investigation at TCI is ongoing. 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. But, not all law enforcement officers should take on the bad image produced by some officers, he said. publisher_id: "7056", 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. This is the largest weapon seizure Ive ever seen in this county, said Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. All rights reserved. I got a call from the prison that said that he was in the hospital, in the ICU, Pressley said. While speaking about Goodson, Bullard mentioned prison staff had found more drugs under a podium in a unit. Productive positive work enviornment. There are no national standards for minimum staffing at prisons, experts say. There were 99 guns and enough fentanyl to kill thousands of people recovered from the home of a former Tabor Correctional Institution corrections officer. Bullard has served as the associate warden for custody at the prison since December 2019. Pros Great job security, benefits, salary, etc. 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. Officials say that Malek Moore, 29, was found unresponsive in his cell shortly after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. (The sergeant) also asked another staff member to bring him his belongings from his office, officers wrote in the report. The visit was also covered by the Tabor-Loris Tribune. He can actually send illegal contraband through the jail, such as weapons, McLean said if the stamp were used on mail to inmates. July 17, 2022. Weve got a lot of folks who are not staying with us.. 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. Copyright 2023 Madden was placed in the Robeson County Detention Center under a $1,075,000 secured bond, according to the Sheriffs Office. Thompson was booked at the Columbus County Detention Center Friday evening, his bond set at $25,000 secured, Conway said. 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.. To cope with the shortages, many prisons have also paid hundreds of thousands each year for overtime. She then called Ontario police. 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. Enter https://www.corrections1.com/ and click OK. Copyright 2021 WECT. Perritt has a 21-year prison work history, most of which has been in corrections. Surveillance video in the prison led investigators to Thompson and to an inmate, who was allegedly provided some of the drug, Conway said.