By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Aug. 11, 2001
A teen-age girl was arrested Friday for attempting to smuggle marijuana to her boyfriend who is being held in the Lauderdale County jail for aggravated assault.
Erica Y. Brewster, 19, 3825 10th Ave., was charged with the felony offense at about 1 p.m., after correctional officer Paul Tadlock discovered approximately a quarter-ounce of marijuana inside a pair of tennis shoes she was giving to inmate Ronnie Edwards.
Brewster, who remained in jail Friday night, also was charged by Meridian police with simple assault. The smuggling and assault charges are unrelated.
Family members and friends are allowed to give jail inmates such items as underwear, shirts, socks and shoes. All are routinely checked by corrections officers.
After Tadlock found the marijuana, the East Mississippi Drug Task Force took over the investigation.
Maj. Ward Calhoun of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department, said that arrests for smuggling items into the jail have declined since razor wire was placed on the outside walls.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3226, or e-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.