Former Tangipahoa prison guard arrested for contraband | One Tammany

A former Tangipahoa sheriff's deputy was arrested for smuggling drugs into the county jail, authorities said.

Tajah Phillips, 21, was arrested Tuesday on charges of contraband in a correctional facility and abuse of office.

Tips from the public indicated that Phillips was selling and distributing illegal items to inmates at the parish jail. The sheriff's office said an investigation confirmed the allegations, and on Tuesday Phillips was released and arrested.

Phillips had been employed as a correctional officer with the Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office since June.

“One of the main focuses of my tenure has been the jail, not only its security but also its functionality and operations,” Tangipahoa Sheriff Gerlad Sticker said in a written statement. “Success in all of these areas depends on the people who work there. While we are actively improving the professional development, standards and expectations of our correctional officers with certified training, this abuse of authority occurs. The habits of the past have no place in this culture change.”

Authorities say the investigation into Phillips is still ongoing.