Garbage truck driver, three inmates attempted to smuggle drugs into Muscogee County Prison, police say

A Columbus sanitation employee and three prison inmates have been charged with various drug crimes after an investigation revealed attempts to bring marijuana into the Muscogee County Prison.

In a press conference Thursday, Major J.D. Hawk and Deputy Chief Warden Sherman Thomas informed the public about the arrest made around 9:30 a.m.

Taurean Steele, 35, is accused of attempting to bring three inmates 14 ounces and four grams of marijuana. He’s charged with felony items prohibited for possession by inmates and felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Thomas recently informed investigators that they intercepted the marijuana while it was trying to be smuggled into the prison.

Luis Gutierrez, Robert Keene and Joe Wallace, all on the garbage detail, were each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute/items prohibited for possession by inmates.

Steele is employed as a waste equipment officer with the city’s sanitation department, according to the Ledger-Enquirer’s searchable city employee database. His duties included driving other inmates around the city to pick up trash, according to Hawk.

Hawk said he understands that citizens might feel sorry for the prisoners, but that it’s not acceptable to leave things for them to intercept, illegal or otherwise.

“When you place an item intentionally in a trash can or some container, trying to help or give it to those prisoners, you have now committed a felony,” Hawk said. “You cannot put anything out there with the intention of getting it to the prison.”

More arrests are expected in the case, according to Hawk. The Recorder’s Court hearing for all of the individuals will be at 2 p.m. March 13.