By Bob Warren
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate
AMITE, La. — Two prisoners have been arrested, and drugs, contraband and multiple weapons have been seized after what authorities called a “shakedown” of the Tangipahoa Parish Jail in Amite.
Multiple searches of the jail have taken place over the past two weeks, including a full-scale search code-named “Operation Shake It Up” on Sept. 19 with the assistance of deputies from neighboring Livingston Parish, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said.
Seized items include improvised weapons known as “shanks,” homemade alcohol, suspected methamphetamine, cash, a cellphone and a large amount of paper laced with synthetic THC known as “Mojo,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The Sheriff’s Office also said the jail trusty program is being reevaluated because it is thought to be the source of some of the contraband.
Two prisoners, Marques Harrison, 43, and Artrell Griffen, 28, have each been arrested in connection with the shakedowns, both accused of introducing contraband into a penal institution, the news release said.
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More arrests are expected.
The jail was in the news last May after an escape involving four inmates. One escapee remains at large. And last month, a jail worker was arrested and accused of bringing contraband into the facility.
“I want to commend our team for their work to continue the turnaround of the parish jail’s security, safety and operations as well as thank our partners at the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and expertise through this process,” said Tangipahoa Sheriff Gerald Sticker, who took office in July.
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