Sheriff releases partial list
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson released this week a partial list of the Escambia County Detention Center inmates who were charged as a result of a shakedown conducted recently by Jackson, ECSO deputies and jail staff, and Brewton Police Department officers
Lawmen conducted a three-hour surprise search of the county jail’s cells, dormitories and common areas on Saturday, February 9. The shakedown yielded a wide variety of illegal and banned substances.
The sheriff said shortly after the shakedown that searchers found 13 cell phones, six phone chargers, four handmade knives, a quantity of pills, three bags of tobacco, one bag of spice, four cigarette lighters, six books with hidden compartments and one tattoo gun.
Several of the inmates who were caught with contraband are federal inmates, and their respective cases have been turned over to U.S. Marshals, he said.
The sheriff did not reveal whether any members of the jail staff were believed to have been involved in smuggling the contraband into the facility, or if arrests were imminent for individuals from the “free world” who are suspected of providing the contraband.
Each of the seven whose names were released was found to be in possession of a cellular telephone, and each is charged with first-degree promoting prison contraband.
They are Christopher Ladale Pugh, 26, of Brewton; Darrell Octavius Brown, 29, of Atmore; Marcus Oneal Pritchett, 26, of Selma; Marcus Joseph Dooms, 33, of Mobile; Tamichael Vantrell Hudson, 47, of Mobile; Kevin Lee Watson, 44, of Atmore, and Willie James Henry, 40, of Mobile.
Jackson, who has not yet released the names of inmates found in possession of weapons or drugs, noted that the investigation is ongoing and said he expected more charges to be filed.