A 34-year-old Smyrna woman was arrested during what DeKalb County sheriff’s officials say was an attempt to sneak tobacco and other items into the DeKalb County Jail.
According sheriff’s officials, the suspect drove up to the rear of the DeKalb County Jail, past the “Authorized Vehicles Only” sign and parked in a spot reserved for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit.
Cara Leanne Johnson was arrested Sept. 4 outside the jail as she allegedly attempted to get contraband to inmates inside.
“A sheriff’s deputy patrolling the perimeter approached Ms. Johnson about the illegal parking and her presence inside the jail Guard Line. He also noticed a black bag in her hand and a rope dangling nearby from a broken cell window several stories up,” DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cynthia Baugh Williams said.
After being questioned, Johnson was handcuffed, searched, taken into custody, and transported to the jail intake area.
The search revealed a large bag of tobacco, two packs of rolling paper and a lighter.
Arrest warrants charge Johnson with crossing state/county guard lines with weapons, intoxicants, drugs without Consent (Felony) and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Johnson was booked and released without bond from the DeKalb County Jail.
Since the beginning of the agency’s March 2022 “Eyes in the Sky” operation to decrease incidents of contraband coming into the jail, the sheriff’s office has arrested about 13 suspects, some of whom were caught in the commission of the crime. The operation continues.
“The audacity of these offenders is astounding,” says Sheriff Melody M. Maddox. “Not only are the incidents occurring in broad daylight, but they do not seem to realize that we are watching them. That is, until they are arrested.”
⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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