Attorneys for Orban and Jelinek could not immediately be reached for comment. 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. 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. The second officer admitted she knew about Thompsons drug activity. Lexipol. Thompson was booked at the Columbus County Detention Center Friday evening, his bond set at $25,000 secured, Conway said. [49], In addition, some commentators have included censorship as well as other deprivations as problems under this new leadership. David McBride of the Ontario Police Department. ", 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. Copyright 2023 Jacobs, 53, had been the warden at Lumberton Correctional Institution in Lumberton since 2020. . Copyright 2021 WECT. [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.". United States; Search; 2022; 2022 Honor Roll of Heroes. The inmate also provided a written statement that he received drugs from the sergeant, according to the report. [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. 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. Copyright 2023 Corrections1. We absolutely and fully support prosecution of those responsible. And this time it came up snake eyes, he said. Bullard also said the sergeant left work early that day after he was questioned and had not returned to work since. }); identifies important training information, interacts with each other and Im sure Im not the only one thats going through this. He resigned from his position on Monday. There are no national standards for minimum staffing at prisons, experts say. A prison with 1,000 inmates should have a total of at least 300 to 350 officers, he said. [41], Soon after, late December 2014, the same news outlet reported that an officer who had been indicted by a grand jury on charges of felony conspiracy to bring contraband into a detention facility, accepting bribes; furnishing controlled substances to inmates; and furnishing tobacco products to inmates was still being allowed to work at the prison by officials, albeit in an "appropriately reassigned" position. Pressley rushed to be by her sons side at the hospital where she heard his last heartbeat. [20] Kenworthy had been named as Administrator prior to the prison's opening on June 29, 2007.[21]. 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. 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. Maddens arrest comes after the recent arrests of three Robeson County detention officers in April for charges of identity theft. [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. All rights reserved. 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. During the search of the deceaseds cell two small suboxone strips were located in the inmates cell and were collected by prison staff.. All rights reserved. NC prison officer planned to behead 2 people. The Department has many hard-working correctional professionals and it takes staff arrests very seriously. Three correctional officers resign amid drug smuggling allegations and suspected inmate overdose death, 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. The Tabor Correctional Institution was constructed on a 37-acre site in east Tabor City, Columbus County. The investigation continues in the case, the sheriff said. There were children in the home and most of the guns were loaded at the time of the search, the sheriff said. A Tabor Correctional Institution supervisor reported the inmate overdose to Tabor City police on Nov. 16, who began an investigation into the matter. 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. But Harkins said the numbers provided by North Carolina suggest Bertie was severely understaffed.. Corrections Officer V Mark A. Loecken. (The sergeant) also asked another staff member to bring him his belongings from his office, officers wrote in the report. Tabor Correctional inmate dies of apparent suicide, National Park Service says never push a slower friend down when escaping a bear, 2 dead, 1 deputy injured in Harnett County chase, crash, officials say; chase suspect on the run. }. "Warden Bullard is an exceptional, insightful leader with deep knowledge of the prison and how the prison system . Sheriff: Its a black eye to the law enforcement profession. 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 . The Charlotte Observer. Drills included escaped inmates and staff being taken hostage. McCoy heard the officer curse and saw her struggling with an inmate. Fontana officers responded and determined that the investigation should be handled by Ontario police since the incident started there. Bertie Correctional Institution was understaffed in the month that Sgt. 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: But some experts interviewed by the Observer said thats a possibility. These allegations are under internal investigation as well. Synthetic cannabinoids, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration online Drug Fact Sheet says, mimic THC, the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana.. Officials say that Malek Moore, 29, was found unresponsive in his cell shortly after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. Copyright 2021 WECT. Special Reports. Speaking with officers on Nov. 16, Associate Warden Jamie Bullard said he was investigating a sergeant at the prison and another inmate. 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. But, not all law enforcement officers should take on the bad image produced by some officers, he said. Bullard had been the associate warden for custody at the prison since December 2019. The smuggling of drugs into prisons is a nationwide problem, not just a North Carolina problem. July 17, 2022. All rights reserved. At Polk Correctional Institution, north of Durham, two or three officers are routinely put in charge of monitoring more than 200 inmates in the chow hall, said Sierra Gravitte, an officer who this month resigned from the prison after four years on the job. They contended those numbers constitute sensitive public security information.. As soon as we plug a hole in one area, offenders find a work around. She earned an extra $36,500 in overtime that year, records show. Officials say that Malek Moore, 29, was found unresponsive in his cell shortly after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. Bullard said that they thought that (the sergeant) had brought the drugs into the prison for (the other inmate), the report states. 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, Productive positive work enviornment. At other prisons of comparable size, officers told the Observer, its common for about 50 or 60 officers to work the day shift. Orban then fled, leaving his service weapon behind and still in the victims vehicle, police said. [22][23] Inmates were found guilty of additional charges due to these assaults. 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." "After the decision was made to locate the prisons in Tabor City, the town had to fight the battle of paying for the land (and giving the land to the state) and we (Tabor City) had to fight the battle of raising the millions of dollars in grants that it took to service the prisons with water and sewer" [4], The design of Tabor Correctional is the same as six other North Carolina prisons. Perritt leaves his post as superintendent at Lumberton Correctional Institution and assumes command at Tabor, where he will oversee the state's third largest . Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. 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. It has become the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for correctional professionals nationwide. While Goodson had been in and out of prison, Pressley held out hope that one day he would come home for good. Jelinek stood by and watched as Orban pointed the gun at the victim and ordered her to drive away, police said. Mother, son charged with child sex crimes", "Correctional officer accused of having sex with an inmate", "Tabor Correctional inmate escapes from work detail", "State auditor finds problems in Tabor Correctional travel records", "Police: Correctional officer drives into two CFCC students", "UPDATE: Stabbed home invasion suspect is a prison employee", North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tabor_City_Correctional_Institution&oldid=1112935200, Buildings and structures in Columbus County, North Carolina, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022, Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations, Articles with dead external links from February 2022, Articles needing cleanup from September 2022, Articles with bare URLs for citations from September 2022, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from September 2022, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 September 2022, at 21:35. [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. The other officer on shift with Thompson had been at Tabor Correctional since June 2019. (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. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though the State Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe in the matter. Orban and Jelinek were arrested and booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Prison leaders say they have begun assigning new officers career readiness coaches, who provide pointers on dealing with inmates, keeping themselves safe and attaining career goals. We live, work and play right here in the Cape Fear. 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. We celebrate community and we tell your stories. Theres just a few bad apples out there, he said. The death of Rodriguez Jr., who left his job at California State Prison-Sacramento in. [48] Because of these charges, the sergeant resigned her position. Video from the area showed Officer Wesley Thompson retrieve two packages from under the podium, place envelopes on top of them and deliver them to an inmates cell. 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. The incident began Saturday afternoon after the woman, who lives in San Bernardino County, left work at Ontario Mills Mall. [29] During this administrator's time, the small annex housing up to 252 minimum security inmates was opened. The prison is located at 4600 West Swamp Fox Highway. 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. The FBI was conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident as of November 2015. [56], As administrator, Brad Perrit was cited for failing to properly document use of a state vehicle. I think if I hadnt gotten over there in time, (Mosley) probably would have cut her throat, McCoy said. Jacobs began his career in 1993 as a correctional officer at the former Cabarrus Correctional Center. Three correctional officers named in two separate incident reports filed by the Tabor City Police Department have resigned in the past week. "The prison's first responders performed lifesaving . He was just talking about how he missed his family and he was just ready to be home with us, Pressley said. Investigators then interviewed Thompson and another officer working his same shift. widget: true, That investigation includes support from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Maj. Russell Conway of the TCPD said Monday. [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. The other suspect is Jeff Thomas Jelinek, 30, an officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said Sgt. Prisons has a zero tolerance for the introduction of contraband to any prison from any source. Contact the writer: 714-704-3764 or ghardesty@ocregister.com, Westminster detective arrested in brutal rape, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Three women arrested for alleged fraudulent federal student loans from Fullerton college, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at 61, 7 house fires prompt fears about gas meters buried in snow. Meggan Callahan was killed there allegedly by an inmate who beat her to death with a fire extinguisher. 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 inmate also provided a written statement that he received drugs from the sergeant, according to the report. }, And they say pay increases approved by the legislature in 2015 will also help with recruiting. State figures show that in April, when Callahan died, roughly one of every five correctional officer positions at the eastern North Carolina prison was vacant. Inmates were charged with assaulting officers on more than one occasion. Look for more on this story as events warrant and in the next Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online. Thompson asked to speak to his attorney when interviewed. Detectives are concerned that there may be other victims. "[54], On April 24, 2017 an officer was arrested, accused of having sex with an inmate. In 2014, a Lanesboro officer was paid $29,800 but made another $35,600 in overtime. Inmate. Over the past four years, the Division of Prisons has: We educate, train and do everything possible to keep contraband out. There has been no evidence indicating that either suspect represented themselves as police officers during the commission of the crimes.. The arrest can affect the image of all law enforcement personnel to the public, he said. One of those officers fell and hurt her knee when she went to Callahans defense, Jernigan said. [51] Assistant Superintendent Larry Thompson was named Acting Superintendent until the next Superintendent was selected. [42], In April 2015, a WECT expose showed why five officers had been terminated and also announced the retirement of Chavez. 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. 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. Weve got to find a way to retain the people who work for us, Guice 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.. 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 the State Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe in the matter. I always was saying that at least when hes doing time like that I know where hes at and hes okay, but boy was I wrong, Pressley said. Many of the large maximum-security prisons such as Bertie and Lanesboro are located in rural areas, where recruiting can be difficult. [57], In October 2019, a Corrections officer was accused of hitting two students with a car,[58] while another was accused of breaking into a house. Roy Cooper has asked him to review the circumstances to ensure this doesnt happen again.. [19], The Tabor City Prison officially opened on August 18, 2008,[13] with George Kemworthy serving as administrator of the prison. The smuggling of drugs into prisons is a nationwide problem, not just a North Carolina problem. 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. [18], In May 2014 TCI was visited by high ranking Panama officials to review the operation of the prison. Early on the morning of Nov. 15, 2013, Lanesboro had just four officers in the chow hall to oversee the 100 inmates who were there for breakfast, McCoy 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. 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. But while North Carolina typically hires about 1,800 to 2,000 prison officers per year, it usually loses about that many as well. Investigators then interviewed Thompson and another officer working his same shift. Thompson had been a correctional officer with Tabor Correctional since July 2018 before resigning Monday. Callahan died, roughly one of every five CO positions at the prison was vacant, By Ames Alexander and Gavin Off It was first opened in 1984 and came with 240 inmates; however, over time, the facility has become even bigger with the capability of housing around 1752 inmates. Dustin Goodson is the inmate who died from the suspected drug overdose at Tabor Correctional. 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. 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. A criminal investigation is underway after an inmate was attacked early Wednesday morning at Tabor Correctional Institution. Said Gary Harkins, former research and information director for ACOIN: People can get killed when you dont have enough staff. Despite the objections of the NCDPS head Frank Perry, the contracts were renewed. 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. According to state law, correctional officers cannot have been convicted of misdemeanors for three years. Surveillance video in the prison led investigators to Thompson and to an inmate, who was allegedly provided some of the drug, Conway said. He was arrested and charged with trafficking synthetic cannabinoids into the prison. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though . Guice, the prison leader, acknowledged that the state faces significant staffing challenges. 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 . The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is committed to continually improving the Public Inmate Locator System web experience to locate inmates. The incident resulted in an "active shooter" announcement being broadcast over the hospital's public address system. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Inmate Craig Wissink, who has been serving a life sentence for murder since 2004, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Callahans death. discovery: { [7] A double fence surrounds the prison.[8]. Former Tabor Correctional officer jailed after sheriffs deputies seize drugs, 99 firearms three Robeson County detention officers in April, Lumber River United Way holds Annual Day of Caring, PSRC leaders continue defense of El Curriculum, NC report shows increase in student misconduct in 2021-22, Innovation, 3D printing saves UNCP swim meet, Pirates hit as Register hits 200 career wins, Big inning sends Pirates baseball past Hoke. This is the largest weapon seizure Ive ever seen in this county, said Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. [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. Only one faces criminal charges at this time, though the State Bureau of Investigation has opened a probe in the matter. About 60 inmates were also near Callahan when she was attacked on April 26, Jernigan said. [37], WECT reported that in late November 2014 a prison guard was arrested by the FBI for conspiring to rob an armored vehicle. 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. Statewide, correctional officers received more than $12 million in overtime in 2015, the Observer found. 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. The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named two new prison administrators. submission: {