Jailer accused of smuggling contraband
Published 12:00 am Friday, November 27, 2015
GREENVILLE — A Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office jail officer was charged with smuggling contraband to inmates inside the detention center.
Sheriff Chuck Smith said Dominique Rashawn Reeves of Greenville was arrested during an undercover sting operation inside the Meriwether County Jail about 11 p.m. Monday.
Smith stated Reeves was helping one of the suspects arrested in the Sept. 27 mass shooting at Hill Haven Event Center.
Smith said Meriwether County Sheriff’s deputies began an investigation after recovering an uniform from one of the shooting suspects that was covered in gang signs.
“Our primary case investigator intercepted numerous communications that indicated that contraband was being brought into the jail,” Smith stated. “Indications from the intercepted communications were that one of our jail personnel was involved in getting the contraband inside. We had to decipher coded communication to determine who was involved and how the transactions were taking place. We set up several covert surveillance operations in our effort to intercept the illegal items being brought in … and we were able to obtain written communication off of our employee from these inmates in reference to the contraband being brought in.”
Smith said deputies also found prohibited items inside the targeted jail cell block.
Investigators executed a search warrant on Reeves’ home on Gay Road in Greenville and seized more items, the sheriff added.
While Smith never revealed which shooting suspect Reeves is accused of helping, the sheriff did say investigators arrested two people close to suspect Demarcus LaQuan Norman, 20, of Northwood Drive in LaGrange — his mother, Contessa Nicole Easley, 35, of Northwood Drive in LaGrange, and his reported girlfriend, Artira Deshay Harrison, 24, of Snelson Street in LaGrange.
Smith stated the two females are believed to have delivered the contraband to Reeves. He said investigators intercepted numerous communications from both Easley and Harrison.
Smith reported after the two were in custody, investigators executed search warrants for blood on the inmates. According to the Sheriff, the blood was sent to the GBI Crime Lab in search of intoxicants.
“I take this very seriously when one of our own not only violates the public’s trust, but also jeopardizes the integrity of this office … regarding the safety and security of this facility,” Smith stated. “I will not tolerate this behavior under my administration, and this case will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. … I appreciate the dedication of my personnel that have spent many long hours over a short period of time to make this investigation come to a successful conclusion.”
Reeves, Easley and Harrison were charged with felony crossing guard lines with drugs, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of schedule II MDMA — known as ecstasy or molly — with intent to distribute, unlawful use of a communication device in committing or facilitating commission of a felony and items prohibited for possession by inmates.
Reeves was additionally charged with violation of oath by a public officer and fired. He was being held without bond at another, undisclosed jail facility.
Easley and Harrison were being held without bond at the Meriwether County Jail.
Smith said more charges are pending.