Three Hinds County detention officers have been arrested following an operation in which large amounts of contraband were discovered.
According to Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones, 44-year-old Sgt. Harry Rutledge, 27-year-old Officer Arkeisha Martin, and 27-year-old Officer Kayla Sims have all been taken into custody for bringing illegal items into the Raymond Detention Center.
The contraband included a cell phone and illegal narcotics including prescription pills, marijuana, fentanyl, tobacco, and lighters.
Investigators also seized $4,500 and recovered a pistol from a vehicle in the parking lot, both of which are believed to be linked to the investigation.
Rutledge and Martin are charged with felony conspiracy to introduce contraband to a penal facility and introduction of contraband to a penal facility. Sims is charged with felony introduction of contraband to a penal facility.
All three officers were on duty at the time of their arrests. They were charged and booked into the Raymond Detention Center. They are currently on administrative leave with pay pending termination, which should be completed Wednesday.
Jones says the investigation into this case is ongoing and more arrests and charges are possible.
The Hinds County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division was assisted by the Patrol Division and the Narcotics Division in prosecuting this case, which is part of Operation Contraband Crackdown.
