LITTLE ROCK — A Miller County jailer has been arrested after authorities say he tried to smuggle drugs and syringes to inmates - the latest in a series of troubles at the Texarkana lockup.
The weekend arrest of Jordan Michael Waller marks the second time this year a jailer stands accused of trying to sneak contraband to inmates. In addition to the staffing problems, the jail has struggled with unruly inmates, beatings and escapes this year.
County officials say security improvements are in the works. And the newly elected sheriff who takes office in January says he plans a number of changes at the jail.
In the meantime, sheriff 's office officials blame the problems on a poorly designed building and a tight budget that doesn't allow them to hire enough staffing to watch the 250-300 inmates in jail at any given time.
"These people who control the purse strings don't realize the 28 people who work at the jail don't always sit there" guarding inmates, said Tommy Hollin, chief deputy of the sheriff's office.
He pointed out that corrections officers transport inmates to court and to the hospital. He said the county's Quorum Court has no plans to increase funding for staffing.
But the jail is to get a new and more secure ceiling and new security cameras that will be concealed in a way that should prevent inmates from being able to disable them, Hollin said.
As for the two staff members running afoul of the law, he said, the sheriff's office did the appropriate background checks before hiring them.
"You don't think we just go out on the street and bring them in there?" he said.
Waller had worked at the border-town lockup for two months before a supervisor caught him trying to smuggle marijuana, methamphetamineand paraphernalia to inmates, authorities said.
When the supervisor noticed the repeated trips in and out for what appeared to be food Saturday morning, he stopped Waller and found syringes in tacos and marijuana in a chili container, authorities said.
Other troubles this year include:
The March arrest of a jailer who had crack cocaine, marijuana and other items in his socks, authorities said. Lamain Anderson has pleaded innocent to six felony drug and contraband charges and is awaiting trial.
The March beatings of three inmates by a group of inmates.
The February escape of a bank robber and a car thief - who have since been sentenced for those crimes - who climbed through the compromised roof and lowered themselves out of a window with a makeshift rope.
The April escape of three "skinny" inmates who climbed out a small window after removing the glass and bars. One man, Demarcus Lamar Cooks, has not been recaptured.
Sheriff Linda Rambo, a firstterm sheriff who lost her bid for re-election in the May 20 primary, didn't return calls seeking comment Tuesday.
Sheriff-elect Ron Stovall, a captain with the Arkansas State Police, said there are a number of things he will do to improve security at the jail when he takes office Jan. 1. He declined to elaborate Tuesday, saying it would be inappropriate since what he would say would be critical of the current administration.
County Judge Roy McNatt said that even though improvements are in the works and policies have been changed to limit contraband, it will always be a problem.
"It seemed like a lot has happened here lately, but there's always going to be contraband brought into the jail," he said.
Information for this article was contributed by the Texarkana Gazette.
Arkansas, Pages 12 on 06/04/2008