Guards arrested for contraband, drugs at troubled Richland County SC jail, sheriff says

Two guards at a South Carolina jail have been arrested for contraband after a search of their vehicles at work, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department announced Friday.

The sheriff’s department conducted an unscheduled vehicle search of all employees at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center during a shift change on Wednesday around 6 p.m., officials said.

Bridget Williams, 37, was charged with possession and furnishing of contraband the distribution of methamphetamine.

Ashanti Rembert, 50, was charged with possession and furnishing of contraband and possession of controlled substances.

Both were released on bond.

The unscheduled search was in response to the recent uptick in drugs and unknown substances in the jail, the sheriff’s department said, which has resulted in multiple inmate deaths from overdose and others being transported to the hospital.

An overdose at the jail on Aug. 14 marked the fourth in four weeks, The State previously reported.

This story was originally published August 24, 2024 at 4:03 PM.

Alexa Jurado

The State

Alexa Jurado is a news reporter for The State covering Lexington County and Richland County schools. She previously wrote about the University of South Carolina and contributes to this coverage. A Chicago suburbs native, Alexa graduated from Marquette University and previously wrote for publications in Illinois and Wisconsin. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Milwaukee Press Club and the South Carolina Press Association.