At least 15 weapons seized in jail shakedown

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Only Channel 2 Action News was there for the largest shakedown in Fulton County jail history.

More than 200 officers from around the state were involved in the raid at the jail Tuesday.

Jail officials said they recovered at least 15 homemade weapons.

The jail commander said Tuesday’s shakedown is about sending a message.

“A serious message that we’re not going to tolerate any dangerous contraband,” Col. Mark Adger said.

Adger said the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Direct Action Response Team (DART) of roughly 10 officers worked with Georgia Department of Corrections prison tactical squads, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office rapid response team, the Gwinnett corrections emergency response team and the Atlanta city corrections VIPER team.

“I believe we had a successful operation today,” Sgt. Joe Buice said.

Adger said finding only one cellphone in the shakedown was a victory.

“We didn’t find as much as we thought we would,” he said.

Authorities said searchers found other electronics as well as 14 shanks and a weapon using a razor blade.

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Lt. Derrick Page said 170 Georgia corrections tactical squad officers made up most of the 230 specially trained men and women that swept through the jail.

Channel 2’s Mark Winne spoke to inmates about the raid.

“They’re doing their job,” one inmate said.

“This is worse than prison, what they’re doing,” another inmate said.

“I don’t understand why they’re doing it,” a third inmate said.

Adger said the discovery of eight cellphones in a murder suspect's cell  weeks ago prompted the shakedown.

“The investigation into the corruption that led to the cellphones getting into this jail is ongoing and we hope to make an arrest,” he said.

Cox Media Group