A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace detention deputy has been arrested for bringing pot-laced meals into the county jail and promoting it to inmates, Sheriff Chad Chronister mentioned Thursday.
Deputy Terry Bradford Jr., 25, was arrested Wednesday after he arrived for work on the Falkenburg Highway Jail, Chronister mentioned at a information convention. On the time of his arrest, Bradford had in his lunchbox greater than a pound of cannabis-laced brownies individually wrapped on the market to inmates, Chronister mentioned.
Bradford faces expenses of introducing contraband right into a jail facility and possession of a managed substance. He was positioned on unpaid administrative depart whereas the investigation is underway.
“He betrayed the belief of this company, this workplace, strictly for greed functions,” the sheriff mentioned.
The Sheriff’s Workplace’s jail intelligence squad bought a tip on Monday that Bradford was bringing “cannabis-laced perishables” and different contraband into the jail and promoting it to inmates within the pod he was assigned to, Chronister mentioned. Investigators discovered the inmates have been utilizing Money App to pay Bradford for the contraband. The investigation to date has uncovered greater than $1,000 in transactions, Chronister mentioned.
Investigators have been nonetheless working Thursday to find out the extent of the transactions, which inmates have been concerned and whether or not another deputies took half within the scheme, Chronister mentioned.
“I believe I can say in full confidence there’ll be some further expenses coming, I simply don’t know on who but,” he mentioned.
Bradford joined the Sheriff’s Workplace as a pre-certified detention as a pre-certified detention deputy in August 2021 and was assigned to the detention middle in October 2021. He beforehand labored for the Florida Division of Corrections on the Zephyrhills Correctional Institute, in line with the Sheriff’s Workplace.
Bradford was not exhibiting up in Hillsborough County reserving data on Thursday morning.
Chronister mentioned the county’s jails have thorough screening processes however jail workers, who can not depart throughout their shifts, are allowed to usher in meals for their very own consumption throughout work hours. The jail now offers free sizzling meals to workers, the sheriff mentioned, a transfer he hopes will cut back the quantity of meals introduced into the power.
The Sheriff’s Workplace has additionally elevated the variety of screenings performed on the jail by drug-sniffing canine.
