By Michael Moser
Crossville Chronicle
CROSSVILLE, Tenn. — Alert corrections officers at the Cumberland County Justice Center thwarted two recent attempts to bring drugs in the county jail, according to reports. Two persons have been arrested in connection with the incidents.
Travis Lee Stoker, 31, 533 Scarlett Dr., was jailed on charges of manufacture, delivery or sell of a controlled substance and introducing contraband into a penal institution on Oct. 20. He was also arrested on an unrelated attachment charging contempt of court.
Erik Jay Hunter, 39, 8500 Cherokee Trail, was charged with introducing contraband into a penal institution when he surrendered to authorities on Oct. 21 to begin serving a 42-month jail sentence handed down in Criminal Court.
“I am really pleased with the work of the corrections officers at the jail,” Sheriff Casey Cox said. “We have placed a strong emphasis on being vigilant and in both of these cases, it has paid off. We are continuing to make changes and improvements in the jail.”
Corrections officers Jason Powers and Kristin Thomas investigated the first incident that led to the arrest of Stoker and the seizure of Oxycodone and tobacco.
Powers conducted a routine check of the lobby area and public restrooms prior to bringing trustees to the foyer for daily cleaning. During that search, he found the drugs, tobacco and a note hidden between vending machines and a pay phone.
The note read, “Please half tobacco and papers ... (to be shared between two inmates) next time I will try and do more than four of these and again thanks for helping him out.” The note was signed.
Thomas joined the investigation and provided additional evidence that led to the arrest of Stoker.
In the second incident, corrections officers Rod Jackson and Koby Wilson started processing Hunter, who had turned himself in to begin serving his prison sentence. Hunter was asked if he had any contraband in his possession and responded he did not.
During a resulting search, 32 Amitriptyline, two Xanax and 40 Hydrocodone pills, plus a small bag of what is believed to be Suboxone, were recovered from Hunter’s anal cavity.
Stoker is to appear in General Sessions Court on Nov. 17 to answer the new charges, while Hunter is scheduled to be in court next Thursday.