North Carolina detention officer facing felonies in contraband conspiracy, deputies say
Oct 26, 2024
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — A woman who was a detention officer has been arrested after being tied to providing contraband to an inmate at the Durham County Detention Center, deputies say.
According to warrants, the now-former Sgt. Nicole Locke, 45 of Raleigh, provided a cell phone and vape, and conspired to facilitate contraband to inmate Darrius L. Tyson, who is serving time for murder and kidnapping.
A spokesperson with the Durham County Sheriff's Office said that Locke has been charged with two counts of felony contraband conspiracy, one count of misdemeanor contraband conspiracy and one count of feloniously providing a cell phone — all to Tyson.
Locke's arrest was announced the same day as the arrest of former employee contractor Briana Ashley Bowie on unrelated drug conspiracy charges.
"I will not stand for any activity which contradicts our mission in the care and custody of the people who are confined to the Durham County Detention Facility," Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said in a statement. "Be it a sheriff's office employee or a contractor, we must hold everyone who interacts with our residents to a high standard."
Locke was released on a $15,000 unsecured bond and is no longer associated with the office, said Birkhead.