Chipley police help with arrest of corrections officer

CHIPLEY – The Chipley Police Department assisted in the arrest of a Malone JCI correctional officer Thursday.

CPD provided undercover assistance in the arrest of Gerald Williams, 25, by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Williams was arrested Thursday and booked into Jackson County jail following his arrest by an undercover police officer.

According to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Williams allegedly attempted to smuggle contraband to a Jackson Correctional Institution inmate. According to Sheriff Lou Roberts, the investigation was called due to discovery of contraband being smuggled into JCI in Malone.

During the investigation, law enforcement officials said they traced the contraband back to Williaims. According to the press release an arrangement was made by Williams with an inmate at JCI to introduce a cell phone into the prison, for which Williams was to be paid $500.

On Thursday morning, Williams traveled to a location near Hwy. 71 South and Interstate 10 to receive possession of the cellular phone and his payment of $500.

Unknown to Williams, the person he met with was an undercover officer, according to the news release. After leaving the meeting, Williams was placed under arrest for attempt to introduce contraband into a state facility and receipt of unlawful compensation, for the money that he received as payment.

Williams allegedly had possession of letters from inmates to mail out for them and Williams is also charged with removal of written communication from a state correctional institution.