ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities arrested a Rowan County Sheriff’s Office detention officer on Wednesday who they said smuggled drugs into the Rowan County Detention Center.
In June, the Sheriff’s Office began its investigation of Raymond Moore, 32, a detention officer working in the main detention facility.
Officials said the investigation began when the State Bureau of Investigation charged a man with shooting a police officer in Statesville. During that investigation, the SBI learned there was marijuana inside the jail.
Investigators discovered that Moore was bringing drugs, tobacco, and lighters into the facility for a preset fee. After reviewing video surveillance in the detention center and interviewing inmates, a search warrant was obtained on Wednesday for Moore, his vehicle, and his home on Correll Street in Landis.
Evidence uncovered during the search confirmed the suspicions that Moore was smuggling contraband into the facility and providing it to as many as four inmates, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
On at least five occasions, the contraband was marijuana.
Chief Deputy David Ramsey said they were able to trace the drugs and other contraband from the streets to the jail.
“Basically the way the scheme worked, he would be given contact information from people on the outside, he would go meet these individuals, receive the contraband to be smuggled back into the jail and was being paid for it by the people on the outside," Ramsey said.
Ramsey said Moore was hired in February after being in the military, and there were no red flags and his background.
Moore was immediately terminated and charged with conspiracy to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, possess with intent to deliver marijuana, and providing marijuana at the Rowan County Detention Center.
“If it's drugs and that type of contraband now, when is it a cellphone?” Ramsey said. “When is it a gun? And you just can't take the risk.”
He was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center where bond was set at $40,000.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be brought against Moore and other suspects.