Three Elizabeth City men have been charged with attempting to provide contraband to inmates at Caledonia Correctional Institution.

The investigation which led to their arrests began around 2 a.m. Thursday when the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on prison property, Chief Deputy Scott Hall said in a statement.

Deputy Alex Wood responded and stopped the vehicle near the prison. 

Investigation revealed one of the people was dropped off and was on foot at the prison farm.

Sergeant Andy Cash and his dog Bosco located the suspicious person on prison property.

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Wood arrested and charged Eric Lee Riley, 38, with possession of a controlled substance on prison premises, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, conspiracy to sell and deliver marijuana, and maintaining a vehicle for controlled substance. 

The deputy also arrested and charged Joseph Antonio Baker, 35, and Cory Carnell Williams, 38, with possession of a controlled substance on prison premises, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, and conspiracy to sell and deliver marijuana. 

The three received $5,000 secured bonds and were placed in the Halifax County Detention Center pending a May 20 court date.

Continued efforts through the night and morning led to the discovery of additional evidence on and around the prison farm.  

As a result, Wood obtained more arrest warrants for Riley, Baker, and Williams for attempting to provide a mobile device to an inmate and misdemeanor attempting to furnish tobacco products to an inmate.  

Riley and  Baker had posted their bonds before the new arrest warrants were served.  

Williams had not posted bond and was served the other outstanding warrants. He received another $1,000 secured bond. 

Deputies will be working with authorities in Elizabeth City to have both Riley and Baker served with the additional charges.

“The sheriff’s office has been working very closely with prison officials to combat this type of activity which has increased over the past several months,” Hall said.