An inmate at the Sevier County Jail has been charged with additional offenses after a suspected drug incident involving female inmates occurred on Tuesday evening. Keely Blair Flasher, a 39-year-old woman incarcerated at the facility, now faces charges for the introduction of contraband into a penal facility and criminal conspiracy. This announcement came after Sheriff Michael Hodges of Sevier County reported a response from his staff to a medical situation arising from unusual inmate behavior and a gathering in one of the jail's housing units, as reported by WVLT.
Officials noticed the gathering and behavior that seemed not to align with the norm, triggering a response from correctional officers who observed signs consistent with possible drug exposure among some inmates, stated a spokesperson for the county, Tyler Basler. To quickly ensure their health, all impacted inmates were transported to a medical facility for treatment, where their conditions were deemed stable, as WBIR noted in their coverage of the event.
Jail records revealed that Flasher had been booked previously on four drug charges before this incident. Following the incident, a preliminary investigation was conducted by the Sevier County Sheriff's Office, which led to Flasher's new charges. "We are actively conducting a comprehensive investigation and taking all necessary measures to identify all those responsible," Sheriff Hodges articulated, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the ongoing efforts to address it. This was echoed in the statement obtained by WATE, confirming that more charges are pending as the investigation continues to unfold.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office has indicated a commitment to thoroughly investigate the smuggling of illegal substances into the jail facility, aiming to release more information to the public as it becomes available. This latest incident illustrates the constant vigilance required to maintain safety within correctional facilities and the complex challenges of preventing contraband introduction. "Additional charges are pending, and we will release further information as it becomes available," a county spokesperson wrote, indicating that the situation is still actively developing and being addressed by law enforcement authorities.
