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MONROE, NC – Two inmates are under investigation, accused of stealing drugs and cash while working in a local prison program.
A team of 14 inmates from the Brown Correctional Institution in Polkton, NC were working on heating and air renovations at a Highway Patrol Building off Highway 74 in Monroe.
The North Carolina Department of Corrections confirms two inmates found a key to an evidence locker. On Monday, they allegedly took 5.5 grams of heroin and $1,000 cash.
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“These are minimum security inmates, who are typically close to release,” explains Keith Acree, spokesperson for the NC Department of Corrections.
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Acree says the inmates had three supervisors and one correctional officer assigned to them.
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“We’re looking into the situation internally to see how these inmates were able to do this,” he says.
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Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey tells WCCB they’ve recovered about $800 of the $1,000, but the heroin is still missing.
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Residents like Norm Voelzow say they probably needed more supervision.
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“Well, somebody wasn’t keeping an eye on them or it wouldn’t have happened, I’m sure. It’s a shame where it happened,” he says.
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The Department of Public Safety says it can save up to 30 percent on construction costs through the inmate construction program.
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Acree says the thefts are not typical of the program.
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“You can’t be a misbehavior or rule breaker and get into this program or stay in this program,” he says.
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Charges against the two inmates are expected in the next few days. The SBI is also investigating. The Monroe project is expected to eventually resume with a different crew of inmates.
