Two detention officers at the Cleveland County Detention Center were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly smuggling contraband into the jail. William Haddox, 21, is accused of bringing in nicotine pouches suspected to be laced with a controlled substance, while Landon Russell, 23, is accused of providing cell phone access to inmates.
"Our commitment to preventing contraband from entering the jail remains unwavering, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to enforce this policy," stated Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason.
The arrests follow an incident last Saturday in which a jail employee was exposed to a substance believed to be an opioid. The employee was treated at a local hospital and made a full recovery.
Sheriff Amason initiated an investigation into potential contraband activities within the jail following the incident.
"In light of such a serious situation, we are not inclined to simply sit back and wait for developments," Sheriff Amason explained. "Our investigation commenced on Saturday night, and by the beginning of the week, we had gathered a substantial amount of evidence."
Cleveland County Detective Rick Adkins believes that Haddox and Russell were not involved in the same contraband smuggling operation. However, Adkins emphasized that both officers had violated jail policies by introducing unauthorized items into the facility.
"I have the utmost confidence in my investigators, and I am certain that this matter will be thoroughly addressed," affirmed Sheriff Amason.
The investigation is currently ongoing.
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