Sheriff’s Office Deputy Arrested for Introduction of Contraband out of the St. Lucie County Jail
St. Lucie County, Fl- Sheriff Ken Mascara announced today that Toby Johnson, 23, of Fort Pierce was arrested and charged with introduction of contraband in to or out of the St. Lucie County Jail. Johnson is a detention deputy with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the St. Lucie County Jail.
According to the Sheriff, Johnson befriended an inmate under his custody, provided him prohibited magazines and offered to take personal mail from the inmate to a family member outside the jail facility; a violation of jail procedures and state law.
“It is our agency’s policy, aligned with state statute and Florida Corrections Accreditation Standards that all mail entering or leaving the jail facility must be scanned by jail security staff for the safety of staff, inmates and the public.”
According to the Sheriff, Johnson accepted a letter from an inmate. He then made arrangements to transport that letter to the family member of the inmate at a location outside the jail.
“Trust is the epitome of public service, the public we serve not only demands that we are held to simply a higher standard than the average person, but THE HIGHEST standard possible. And to this, I concur. Of ethical and moral behavior. Of honesty and professionalism, and especially of putting service to others above one self,” said Sheriff Ken Mascara.
“When that trust is broken and the highest standards are not met and/or maintained, that person has failed our community, this organization and me,” Mascara said. “That failure tarnishes the agency and everyone who pins this badge on each and every day.”
According to the Sheriff, Johnson was arrested on September 19 and booked into the St. Lucie County on a $3,750 bond. He was placed on un-paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation.
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