WINDSOR – Teamwork by officers from two law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of four individuals who allegedly attempted to deliver illegal contraband to an inmate or inmates here Thursday morning at Bertie Correctional Institute (BCI).

According to Windsor Police Chief Todd Lane, the suspects were quickly apprehended following a traffic stop. That stop came on the heels of a pair of suspects fleeing on foot into a wooded area near the prison after BCI officers witnessed two individuals throwing contraband across the prison fence.

The four individuals, all listing addresses in Robeson County, were each charged with possession of a controlled substance on prison premises, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, and felony conspiracy. They were:

Evan Kelly Sanderson, age 34, of Pembroke;

Jessica Hammonds, 25, of Lumberton;

Robert Wayne Locklear, 25, of Maxton; and

Toby Locklear, 18, of Shannon.

Sanderson and Hammonds were each jailed under a $100,000 secured bond. Bond for R. Locklear and T. Locklear was set at $120,000 each, secured.

Lane said the incident at BCI was reported at 7:30 a.m. at which time officers from his department were dispatched to the prison.

“Once on scene, the officers were able to contain the suspects in a block of woods bordering Cooper Hill Road,” Lane said. “Officers from both the Windsor Police Department and the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office were stationed along Cooper Hill Road when the suspects were seen running from the woods and entering a vehicle.”

Lane added that BCSO Chief Deputy Kenny Perry performed a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle near the intersection of Cooper Hill Road and King Street.

“Officers from both departments were on scene within seconds and all four suspects were taken into custody,” Lane stated.

Meanwhile, BCI officials recovered three, one liter, bottles which contained tobacco, marijuana, and cell phones from the exercise yard.

All suspects were processed and then transported to Bertie County District Court for their first appearance. Lane said each of the suspects were unable to make bond and remain in the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail.

Windsor Police Detective Eddie Hoggard and BCSO Detective Naomi Wiggins are handling the case with assistance from Windsor Officer Beverly Peele, and BCSO Deputies Brandon Turner and Richard Oliver.

“I am proud of how well the two departments worked together as a single unit today” “Without the teamwork displayed by both departments these suspects may have gotten away,” Lane noted.

Bertie Sheriff Holley echoed those sentiments and stated he was glad he had officers near the scene to assist.

“We want to thank the Windsor Police Department and Bertie Sheriff’s Office for their quick response,” said state Director of Prisons Kenneth Lassiter. “The collaboration between Bertie Correctional and local law enforcement prevented contraband from entering our prison, and the partnership prevented the spread of drugs in our facility.”