By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
An early morning raid of the Escambia County Detention Center, conducted Saturday, December 14, resulted in the discovery of only a small amount of contraband. And that has Sheriff Heath Jackson smiling.
More than 40 law enforcement personnel, including ECDC officers, local sheriff’s deputies and a special team of officers from Baldwin County Corrections Center, secured the jail at 5 a.m. and conducted a search of the entire facility. They came up with a small amount of fermented fruit, a small amount of tobacco and two handmade weapons.
Despite the relatively miniscule results of the shakedown – actually because of those results – Jackson was happy with the outcome.
“Although a few small items were located, I am proud of the overall lack of contraband found,” Jackson said. “The search shows that even though there is still work to be done, we are on the right track. Our corrections officers are working hard to keep illegal items out of our jail and to keep it safe.”
A similar search, conducted in February, led to the discovery and confiscation of 13 cell phones, four weapons, three bags of tobacco, and six phone chargers.
Jackson said the difference in the two raids shows that members of the jail staff have become more diligent in their effort to keep banned substances from inmates.
“I am very proud that in the last 10 months, the officers have been able to change the way business was being conducted,” he said. “Congratulations to the officers and the command staff on a job well done.”
Jackson also praised the cooperation of the neighboring sheriff’s office.
“I want to give a special thank you to Baldwin County Sheriff Hoss Mack for allowing us to utilize his correctional response team,” he said. “We are very fortunate to have such good law enforcement neighbors.”