Jail Contraband Leads To Charges For Dispatcher And Inmate

 

WATER VALLEY – A dispatcher and inmate face felony charges after an alleged conspiracy to introduce contraband into the Yalobusha County Detention Center. 

Sheriff Mark D. Fulco reported the dispatcher, Taylor Buford, was arrested by agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics on Nov. 18 after allegedly introducing contraband into the jail. She is charged with the sale and/or introduction of a controlled substance into a correction facility and conspiracy to commit a crime. 

Johnno Jenkins, an inmate at the county jail, was also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime.

Fulco reported the arrests stem from an investigation launched by his department.

“It is very unfortunate to have an employee breach your trust and commit a crime,” the sheriff reported about the arrest. “But I am proud of my department, we have dedicated men and women employed here who also feel betrayed. They work tirelessly to ensure the law is enforced equally for all.”

Jenkins has been in custody since Sept. 30 after he was charged with attempted murder following a brutal altercation with his cousin in Oakland. The assault occurred on Sept. 11 and Jenkins eluded authorities for almost three weeks before he was captured in Panola County.

In an unrelated incident Fulco reported Carlos Brassell of Batesville was arrested on Nov. 22 after a pursuit through Water Valley and other parts of the county. Earlier in the night Brassell allegedly fled from Panola County deputies responding to a disturbance call.

“Panola notified our deputies and Water Valley officers to be on the lookout for the vehicle,” Fulco explained. 

The sheriff explained a Water Valley officer met the vehicle entering the city limits of Water Valley on Hwy. 315 and attempted to stop it. Two deputies and another Water Valley officer joined the chase and pursued Brassell approximately 20 miles before he ran out gas on Hwy. 7 near Water Valley.

Brassell was released to Panola County deputies. He will also be charged with felony fleeing in Yalobusha County.