Last month in a community update on policing Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly spoke about one of his more recent cost-saving measures at the county jail. Civilian employees replaced deputies who’d been handling the closed-circuit television hub, thus enabling corrections deputies–who are costlier to the bottom line–to be redeployed in the jail proper.
This morning, one of those employees was arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly stashing marijuana in her locker at work.
Victoria Ferguson, 30, who was to mark her first year at the agency later tis month, was arrested on a charge of possession of pot, under 20 grams, of itself a minor misdemeanor. But because the pot was in her locker at the jail, she was also charged with introduction of contraband into a detention facility, a felony.
The discovery was part of a routine sweep by narcotics deputies with a K-9 through the jail. Tag, the K-9, alerted deputies to the presence of narcotics in a locker in the employees’ break room. The dog sniffed up Locker #13.
Before Ferguson opened her locker at 11:30 a.m., a sergeant opened the locker with a master key that opens all lockers, according to Ferguson’s arrest report, and removed a small blue and pink backpack. The pot was allegedly in her wallet in a small sandwich-style baggie.
Ferguson, according to the arrest report, said her job is a little stressful, and that the marijuana was for personal use. CCTV employees don’t routinely encounter inmates, but there is “incidental” contact, a sheriff’s official said today. Asked if she’d ever distributed any of the pot to other employees or inmates, Ferguson said no.
Moments later, Ferguson went from surveilling inmates to being one, held on $3,000 bond. The incident developed as the sheriff was holding a press conference with two other regional sheriffs on a seven-month operation focusing on narcotics and resulting in the arrests of 45 people in Flagler alone.
“I am very disappointed that a Sheriff’s Office employee would violate our drug free workplace and other policies and bring drugs into the jail,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “I will not tolerate employees tarnishing the good reputation of our agency and the many men and women that work hard to serve our community in an ethical and professional manner.”
The county jail has had its run of problems in the past year, with the resignation of three corrections deputies last year, after the deputies were investigated for sexual improprieties, a deputy resigning under the cloud of an improper relationship with an inmate last October, a deputy suspended for reporting to work drunk in late March, and now the Ferguson matter.
The job is notoriously difficult, routinely stressful, shorn of glamor, and often associated with the term “thankless.”
Dave says
Always sex and drugs going on at the ol green roof inn, sounds like one heck a party there with the guards supplying all the sex n drugs. I wish everyone could jus legally use this marijuana with out such a big fuss being made. It helps with stress and has less bad symptoms to deal with than alcohol
woody says
Not the sharpest knife in the draw.
Veteran says
Really, bringing pot into a jail. Extremely stupid!
Sarajane Stewart says
I’m sorry but I still think the guy who came to work drunk should have been fired. Not only that, did he get a DUI? He had to get to work somehow. I think they need to do a little more investigating of its own. Please do not get me wrong I have respect for our law enforcement, but I am getting tired of the “good ole boy” situations. Most of the ones who are giving Flagler county a bad name are still on the job just in a different position, in the private sector they would have been let go. I believe our law enforcement officers should be held to a higher standard. Just my opinion.
Hm says
Internal affairs must be busy at fcso…
Mm patient says
I guess it’s a great strategy. Hire the criminals as police then bust them. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂it’s starting to look like a trend now.didnt they just say last week pot is worse them coke heroin and pills and crack !the violence all comes from marijuana watch all comes from flagler county employees!the said the mosquito commission guy guy was the main supplier for flagler county😂😂😂😂great strategy tho!hire the criminals then bust them lmfao
Trailer Bob says
Wow! She didn’t know that they have drug sniffing dogs in the jail?
MR G says
Lets See a big giant picture of her like you do everyone else !!
FlaglerLive says
Cops, firefighters and employees of those agencies are exempt from having their mug shots disclosed publicly.
Anonymous says
When you are convicted of a crime your mug shot should be public regardless of who you are or where you were employed! This law needs to be changed. Look at how much riff-raff has occurred here in FCSO involving men and nothing was done about it, but I see repeatedly that woman are being arrested and charged. An external investigation needs to be conducted on this Sheriff and his operations.
Brian Smith says
If her name was Hillary there would be no charges!