Deputies prevent contraband delivery at Georgia prison using drone on Christmas Eve

Deputies in a central Georgia county stopped a delivery of contraband items to a jail during a traffic stop.

The Crisp County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were responding to a stopped vehicle just before 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve when they found a man asleep behind the wheel and at a Georgia Highway 300 intersection.

When officers made contact with the driver, identified as Hunter Watson, they found him with a handgun under his leg.

According to the sheriff’s office, officers saw “numerous indicators consistent with an attempted ‘jail drop,’ an illegal contraband delivery operation” using drones.

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When officers searched the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said they found large quantities of tobacco, vaping devices, alcoholic beverages, drone batteries and other items “frequently associated with jail drop-off activities.”

Officers also found what may be marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a firearm.

Watson told deputies he had recently used methamphetamine and said he was paid to transport the items to another location.

Deputies arrested Watson on charges of dealing with inmates without consent of the warden or superintendent, receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance and possession and use of drug-related objects.

Watson was taken to the Crisp County Jail after his arrest.

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