Tip from Warden Leads to Arrest, Confiscation of Drugs, Contraband
A tip from a prison warden resulted in an arrest and the confiscation of drugs and other contraband apparently bound for delivery to inmates at Rogers State Prison in Reidsville. In a press release from the Toombs Count y Sheriff ’s Office, it was rep orted that on the afternoon of April 23, 911 dispatch received a call from Warden Trevonza Bobbitt reporting a suspicious vehicle driving around the outside of the prison. Bobbitt advised that this type of activity is consistent with persons who are attempting to deliver contraband to inmates who are assigned to outside details and who smuggle the contraband back inside the prison. Bobbitt alerted dispatch that he was following the suspicious vehicle on Highway 178 toward Toombs County. He requested assistance to stop the vehicle and to further investigate. Toombs County deputies located the suspicious vehicle, a silver Honda Accord, in the vicinity of Highways 56 and 178. After stopping the vehicle, the deputies discovered two persons inside, Shakeah Sims, the driver, and Victor Watkins, a passenger in the front seat. While speaking with the two suspects, deputies detected the odor of marijuana inside the car and asked the occupants to step out. Watkins advised police that he had a bag of marijuana hidden in the groin area of his pants. Watkins retrieved the marijuana and handed it to the officers.
Deputies then conducted a search of the car and discovered under the front passenger seat a large, round object wrapped in electrical tape that emitted the odor of marijuana. Further inspection revealed that methamphetamine was also hidden inside the package. A black trash bag located behind the driver’s seat contained a large quantity of tobacco, five packs of fine cigarette paper, two rolls of electrical tape, a metal cylinder shaped device that is commonly used to grind marijuana buds into fine particles for smoking, and five packs of cigars.
Watkins was placed under arrest at the scene, and Sims was transported to the Sheriff’s Office for further questioning. All together, deputies discovered approximately 73 grams of methamphetamine, 18 grams of marijuana and two pounds of tobacco.
Watkins was charged with possession of items prohibited for distribution to inmates, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, trafficking methamphetamine, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He was denied bond and is being held in the Toombs County jail. His booking report revealed that he was also in violation of probation in Carroll County.
