The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department arrested a detention officer for the county’s detention facility Wednesday as an investigation continues into a conspiracy to bring contraband into the facility.

Cordarius Rashard Coleman, 27, began working at the detention facility in March, according to a county agenda. 

The Wednesday arrested stemmed from an incident on Sept. 21 and involved a cellphone, Ward Calhoun, the chief deputy of the department, said. 

Jerry D. Williams, who had been incarcerated at the facility, also faces charges for conspiracy to introduce contraband. Williams is now in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

“It’s still open and there will be additional arrests,” Calhoun said. 

Billy Sollie, the county sheriff, said this is a problem many sheriffs overseeing detention facilities face, so long as there is demand and pressure from inmates.

“It’s unfortunate that there are employees who use their authority for personal gain,” Sollie said. “There are multiple people involved in this violation of the law and this infringement of security.”