State figures. Corrections1 is revolutionizing the way in which the corrections community finds relevant news, To cope with the shortages, many prisons have also paid hundreds of thousands each year for overtime. Contents 1 Construction 2 Operation One former officer, who rushed to a colleagues defense after she was slashed in the neck by an inmate at Lanesboro Correctional Institution, said the attack might have been prevented with more staff. EOW: Monday, January 10, 2022. Tabor City Police Chief Donald Dowless says the investigation is continuing, and that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe into the case. Former Tabor Correctional officer jailed after sheriff's deputies seize Officer charged with trafficking drugs at Tabor Correctional Two new prison managers appointed | NC DPS 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. Investigators then interviewed Thompson and another officer working his same shift. evvnt_require("evvnt/discovery_plugin").init({ Cop Suspended for Punching Latina As Police Reject 98% of - Newsweek 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. 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. 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. 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. He resigned from his position on Monday. Bullard also said the sergeant left work early that day after he was questioned and had not returned to work since. "The prison's first responders performed lifesaving . Orban then fled, leaving his service weapon behind and still in the victims vehicle, police said. Roy Cooper has asked him to review the circumstances to ensure this doesnt happen again.. Moreover, we are seeking to determine if the recent death of an inmate by a suspected drug overdose is related to this activity. Search by Year. The officer was indicted by a federal grand jury. Finding people who are willing to work as prison officers isnt easy. Some correctional officers have more than doubled their income by working overtime. More than 50 dosage units, 200 grams of the synthetic drug commonly known as K2/Spice was recovered, Conway said. We was really hoping for him to be home for Thanksgiving.. 2175 N. Roberts Ave, The staffing shortages also put officers in danger, Smith said. His mother, Tina Pressley said she was in shock when she got the phone call about what happened. DA issues statement over illegal drug allegations involving Tabor City While speaking about Goodson, Bullard mentioned prison staff had found more drugs under a podium in a unit. [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. If you had more staff, then you might have been looking at hurt staff instead of dead staff (on the day Callahan died), Harkins 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 . 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. Said Gary Harkins, former research and information director for ACOIN: People can get killed when you dont have enough staff. The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Jamie Bullard as the new warden of Tabor Correctional Institution in Tabor City. Three correctional officers are off the job amid allegations of drug smuggling and after an inmate died from an apparent overdose. Its not safe, McCoy said. [22][23] Inmates were found guilty of additional charges due to these assaults. . Guns will be held for evidence until the trial, said sheriffs Maj. Damien McLean. Its unclear whether better staffing would have saved Callahans life. TABOR CITY, NC (WWAY) In Columbus County, an investigation is ongoing after one Tabor City prisoner died of an overdose, two correctional officers resigned, and one was arrested for. Pressley rushed to be by her sons side at the hospital where she heard his last heartbeat. [40] The officer was arrested by the Tabor City police department. And they say pay increases approved by the legislature in 2015 will also help with recruiting. But some experts interviewed by the Observer said thats a possibility. [33], Another issue, faced under the new Administrator's term in February 2014, was the death of a 39-year-old inmate, in which an autopsy was needed to determine the cause of death. . Corrections Jobs, Employment in Tabor City, NC | Indeed.com We live, work and play right here in the Cape Fear. One of the most dangerous items recovered was the stamp with the words attorney-client privilege, McLean said. State prison leaders say they are holding many hiring events and partnering with schools and military bases to fill jobs. As soon as we plug a hole in one area, offenders find a work around. Many of the large maximum-security prisons such as Bertie and Lanesboro are located in rural areas, where recruiting can be difficult. Drugs are thrown over the fences (often stuffed into footballs or basketballs), hidden in the mail, brought in by staff or smuggled in during visitation. The former NASCAR driver Robert East, known as Bobby, was fatally stabbed on Wednesday in Westminster, Calif., the authorities said, and the suspect in the stabbing was killed on . Weve got to find a way to retain the people who work for us, Guice said. While Goodson had been in and out of prison, Pressley held out hope that one day he would come home for good. Correctional Officer Wesley Thompson has been charged with trafficking synthetic cannabinoids inside Tabor Correctional Institution. 8 Corrections jobs available in Tabor City, NC on Indeed.com. The Department has many hard-working correctional professionals and it takes staff arrests very seriously. A correctional officer was in handcuffs Friday afternoon, charged with trafficking synthetic cannabinoids inside Tabor Correctional Institution. Copyright 2021 WECT. They might have had enough officers to subdue that inmate before he got that fire extinguisher from the sergeant, said Robert Webster, a former captain at two North Carolina maximum-security prisons. }. Perritt has a 21-year prison work history, most of which has been in corrections. These allegations are under internal investigation as well. 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. Officer charged with drug trafficking at TCI - Tabor-Loris Tribune All rights reserved. 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. (The sergeant) also asked another staff member to bring him his belongings from his office, officers wrote in the report. 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." 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. During this time. 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. WINDSOR, N.C. Bertie Correctional Institution was understaffed the month that Sgt. Maddens arrest comes after the recent arrests of three Robeson County detention officers in April for charges of identity theft. Experts said that better staffing at the prison likely would have meant more eyes and ears on what inmates were doing, faster response times and more officers on the scene. The ATFs database called the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, or NIBIN, also will be used to determine if guns were stolen. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though . A correctional officer at Tabor Correctional Institution is under investigation following the overdose death of an inmate there, the Tabor City Police Department reports. 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. The prison is a mixed classification facility, resulting in inmates classified, originally, from medium to maximum control levels being housed within, with minimum custody inmates added in the 2014 addition. detail_page_enabled: true, Tabor Correctional Institution, North Carolina Inmate Booking - Templeton Meggan Callahan was killed there - allegedly by an inmate who beat her to death with a fire extinguisher. But Harkins said the numbers provided by North Carolina suggest Bertie was severely understaffed.. The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Stephen Jacobs as the new warden of Tabor Correctional Institution in Tabor City. Local law enforcement, either a police department or sheriffs office, is called whenever anyone is caught trying to smuggle in drugs. All rights reserved. Thompson was booked at the Columbus County Detention Center Friday evening, his bond set at $25,000 secured, Conway said. When you see news happening, report it! While the inmates paid for the food, state resources were used to deliver these meals. 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. "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. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). David released a statement on the situation Wednesday. High School Job Shadowing Program/Senior Projects, Two Chadbourn police officers receive heroism awards for saving lives during fires, Emergency personnel, community partners conduct active shooter training at East Columbus High, #UNSOLVED: Shining light on cold cases in the Cape Fear, a WWAY special report, 'Teacher of the Month' dedicates life to special needs students after high school internship. [44], In June 2015, the Tabor-Loris Tribune reported that an officer was being investigated striking a person in the road. Statewide, about 16 percent of officer positions are vacant. element: "#evvnt-calendar-widget", State prison officials refused to say how many staff were on duty the day Callahan died. [12], It cost approximately $28million to operate this prison each year[13] TCI is maintained by contract maintenance, TKC Management Services.[14]. Officers said excessive overtime work can leave them burned out and exhausted. The investigation continues in the case, the sheriff said. Attorneys for Orban and Jelinek could not immediately be reached for comment. Corrections Officer V Mark A. Loecken. Published: Nov. 23, 2021 at 8:20 PM PST TABOR CITY, N.C. (WECT) - Three correctional officers are off the job amid allegations of drug smuggling and after an inmate died from an apparent overdose. All rights reserved. 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. He is assigned to the Chino Institute for Men. Orban approached her as she was getting into her car in the mall parking lot and forced himself into the passenger seat, police said. One Polk officer made $29,800 in salary in 2015. 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. Tabor Correctional Institution is a great place to work but there are daily situations that arise that may jeopardize a persons life whether it be staff or inmates. Fontana officers responded and determined that the investigation should be handled by Ontario police since the incident started there. 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. widget: true, Drills included escaped inmates and staff being taken hostage. Perritt leaves his post as superintendent at Lumberton Correctional Institution and assumes command at Tabor, where he will oversee the state's third largest . 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. 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. North Carolina Prison guards are paid at the lower end of the national scale,[17] although North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory proposed in April 2015 significant increases in officer pay, although the raise may be partially based on the custody level of the prison. 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. Prison leaders plan to examine many factors, including staffing patterns, Guice said. 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. (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. Lumberton, NC 28358, Lumberton, NC News, Obituaries, classifieds, and Sports. 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. Cons Work related injuries or death caused by inmates. [55], In June 2017, an inmate assigned to a work detail at a second prison escaped. We absolutely and fully support prosecution of those responsible. [46] WECT later reported this officer had been convicted of larceny a year before the prison hired her. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though the State Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe in the matter. A police service weapon found in the restaurant workers car led authorities to Orban, McBride said. When Orban returned to the mall, he called his wife to tell her he was missing his gun. But prison officials did release the monthly figures, which show that the prison had 211 officers available to work in April. She will be spending the holidays grieving for her only son, but she can take some comfort in one decision Goodson made to change the lives of others as an organ donor. More than 121 grams of synthetic marijuana was discovered during a search of the cell. The incident began Saturday afternoon after the woman, who lives in San Bernardino County, left work at Ontario Mills Mall. TABOR CITY, NC (WWAY) One correctional officer has been charged, and two others have resigned in the wake of the overdose death of an inmate at Tabor Correctional Institution. The arrest can affect the image of all law enforcement personnel to the public, he said. [37], WECT reported that in late November 2014 a prison guard was arrested by the FBI for conspiring to rob an armored vehicle. Brian Dawe, executive director of the American Correctional Officer Intelligence Network (ACOIN), said Bertie like most of the nations prisons appeared to be badly understaffed, based on the numbers that state prison officials provided to the Observer. (The officer) also said that Thompson told her that he was bringing the drugs into the prison by hiding it in the soles of his boots. Stephen Jacobs Named Warden at Tabor Correctional Institution Anyone with additional information or any information regarding drug activity in Robeson County is asked to call the Robeson County Sheriffs Office Drug Enforcement Division at 910-671-3191 or email [emailprotected], Reach Jessica Horne at 910-416-5165 or via email at [emailprotected], Address: We're your neighbors. ", In September 2014, local news channel WECT discovered that this administrator of the prison had approved using state employees and state vehicles to have fast food delivered to the prison inmates on several occasion. She resigned last Friday. Prisons has a zero tolerance for the introduction of contraband to any prison from any source. The Charlotte Observer. I dont understand how thats happening. [42], In April 2015, a WECT expose showed why five officers had been terminated and also announced the retirement of Chavez. The smuggling of drugs into prisons is a nationwide problem, not just a North Carolina problem. and I think Ill get the names of the people who actually got his organs and maybe one day I can meet them, Pressley said. 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. McCoy heard the officer curse and saw her struggling with an inmate. Tabor Correctional inmate dies of apparent suicide 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. The other officer on shift with Thompson had been at Tabor Correctional since June 2019. Tabor City Correctional Institution - Wikipedia (The officer) also said that Thompson told her that he was bringing the drugs into the prison by hiding it in the soles of his boots. At Bertie, Callahan was responding to a fire set inside a trash can on the evening of April 26 when an inmate beat her to death with the fire extinguisher shed brought to douse the flames, state officials say. Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins, left, and sheriffs Lt. Adam Chavis examine guns seized from a Lumberton residence on Thursday. We celebrate community and we tell your stories. Meggan Callahan was killed there - allegedly by an inmate who beat her to death with a fire extinguisher. CDCR Public Inmate Locator Disclaimer - California Editors note: WECT is not naming the other two correctional officers as they have not been charged with any crime. Ex-NASCAR Driver Bobby East Fatally Stabbed at California Gas Station And we dont have enough staff to fight back.. Jelinek is a four-year officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Thompson had been a correctional officer with Tabor Correctional since July 2018 before resigning Monday. All rights reserved. Jacobs began his career in 1993 as a correctional officer at the former Cabarrus Correctional Center. RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) - Jamie Bullard has been named the new warden of Tabor Correctional Institution in Tabor City, the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice announced Monday. He was just talking about how he missed his family and he was just ready to be home with us, Pressley said. Multiple drug overdoses in the area near Maddens home on the 8000 block of N.C. 72 East near Lumberton sparked the start of the investigation that ended in his arrest, McLean said. "[54], On April 24, 2017 an officer was arrested, accused of having sex with an inmate. They are asking that anyone who has information to contact the Ontario Police Department at (909) 395-2908. The Tabor Correctional Institution was constructed on a 37-acre site in east Tabor City, Columbus County. The death of Rodriguez Jr., who left his job at California State Prison-Sacramento in. Investigators filed a separate report for drug trafficking/smuggling following their conversation with Bullard on Nov. 18. "The health and safety of the staff and the offender population is our top priority." These allegations are under internal investigation as well. Statewide, correctional officers received more than $12 million in overtime in 2015, the Observer found. Dustin chose to be a donor because thats just the way he was he was always helping people and ultimately, I think he saved like five lives with his donations, Pressley said. The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named two new prison administrators. } Bullard also said the sergeant left work early that day after he was questioned and had not returned to work since. At other prisons of comparable size, officers told the Observer, its common for about 50 or 60 officers to work the day shift. Drugs are thrown over the fences (often stuffed into footballs or basketballs), hidden in the mail, brought in by staff or smuggled in during visitation. An investigation into the officer was ongoing at the time of the news report, although Department of Corrections Spokesman Keith Acree said "Most often when employees are caught doing this and charged, they resign," Acree was unable to say how many employees resigned after being charged with drug offenses, although the news report reference two other recent issues with prison employees. 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. [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. Jelinek stood by and watched as Orban pointed the gun at the victim and ordered her to drive away, police said. Over the past four years, the Division of Prisons has: We educate, train and do everything possible to keep contraband out. 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. Their son, former correctional officer Valentino Rodriguez Jr., was found dead dead at home in October. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. map: false, That contraband was located during a search of the inmates cell, Conway said. identifies important training information, interacts with each other and Had there been more, he said, one female officer might never have been assaulted. Thompson has not been linked to the death of Goodson at this time. Mother reacts to news of son's apparent drug overdose at Tabor Correctional Those officers must cover two shifts and a number of them are off, sick or on vacation at any given time so only a fraction of the total staff was likely available to work the day shift on April 26. The victim is reportedly in his 30s and from the Tabor City . partner_name: "WWAY TV", (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. TABOR CITY, N.C. (WECT) - An inmate at Tabor Correctional Institution died of an apparent suicide, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. Working at Tabor Correctional Institution: 7 Reviews - Indeed She resigned last Friday. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. That works out to about one officer for every 29 inmates. Copyright 2023 TABOR CITY, NC (WWAY) One correctional officer has been charged, and two others have resigned in the wake of the overdose death of an inmate at Tabor Correctional Institution. The call came just hours after she had talked to her son. 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