BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Four people from Tuscaloosa are in custody at the Elmore County Jail facing multiple charges after allegedly planning to smuggle drugs, weapons and cell phone into a prison property Dec. 18.
The four people in custody have been identified as two females, Teaira Robbins, 29, and Ashanti Huguley, 20. The two males are Tarrance Prewitt, 18, and Joseph Manns, 18, all of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. All four are charged with Drug Trafficking, Possession of Marijuana 2nd, and Possession of Marijuana 1st. Bond for each is set at $1,521,000.
According to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, the arrests came about after two deputies observed suspicious behavior at a business close to three different prisons on Hwy. 143.
On Dec. 18 at 3:30 a.m. while on patrol, two deputies observed a 2016 Toyota Camry parked in a lot on Hwy. 143 at Small Business Motors. That is just down the road from the prisons,” Franklin said.
Franklin said the deputies noted there were four individuals in the vehicle. Two of those individuals reportedly got out of the vehicle and were seen putting bags into the trunk of the vehicle. They then returned to the vehicle.
“Since the business was closed at that time, and this area is close to the prisons where attempts are often made to smuggle in contraband, the deputies made contact with the vehicle,” Franklin said.
Deputies reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and the occupants were asked to exit the car. A probable cause search was conducted during which deputies found six ounces of suspected crystal methamphetamine, a pound of suspected marijuana, multiple cell phones and multiple lock blade knives.
“There is no doubt they were attempting to smuggle those items into one of the prisons. We have had issues like this before and have made arrests in the past. We try to patrol that area frequently. What is usually done is the items are thrown over a fence into an area traveled by prisoners. Obviously, that extra patrol paid off for us that night,” Franklin said.
Over the summer, deputies investigated a similar incident where the suspect vehicle fled beginning a police pursuit. Two people were taken into custody in that matter, Franklin said, and they remain in the Elmore County Jail.
“I am proud of the deputies, they made a good stop on this,” Franklin said. “People need to know we are watching.”
