Three men are in custody after Washington County deputies found them with a drone and equipment near a state prison early Saturday morning.
What’s Happening: Deputies stopped a vehicle leaving Washington State Prison in Davisboro around midnight on October 18 after spotting traffic violations. Inside, they found a large drone, drone batteries, and other items used to drop contraband into prisons.
What’s Important: All three men were arrested and charged with Trading with Inmates and Flying an Unmanned Aircraft. Travionne McKenzie, 30, of DeKalb, Michael Todd, 45, of Bankhead, and Joshua McKenzie, 33, of Carrollton, were taken into custody at the scene.
Between the Lines: Deputies were already on alert for suspicious activity near the prison when they spotted the vehicle. The traffic violations gave them reason to make the stop, where they discovered the drone operation.
What Happens Next: The investigation continues and more arrests could follow, according to Sheriff Joel Cochran.
The Sources: Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
