Menu
Woman arrested at DOC, charged two felonies
PUTNAMVILLE -- On Saturday, correctional police officer Troy Keith arrested 41-year-old Teresa Rains of Terre Haute at the Putnamville Correctional Facility.
Suspected of smuggling contraband into the facility, Rains was detained and interviewed by Keith when she arrived at the prison to visit her husband, offender Alvin Rains.
During the interview, with the assistance of correctional officer Deanna Lanning, staff recovered several concealed bundles containing a controlled substance and tobacco.
Keith advised Rains of her Miranda rights, placed her under arrest and notified the Putnam County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Sheriff Danny Wallace was dispatched to the facility to transport Rains to the Putnam County Jail, where she was charged with a Class A misdemeanor for trafficking with an inmate and two Class D felonies, dealing in a schedule I, II, III controlled substance and possession of a scheduled I, II, III controlled substance.
Alvin Rains, 42, of Indianapolis, is serving a sentence for a conviction of robbery, a Class B felony, with a projected release date of Aug. 23, 2014. He was placed in administrative segregation pending the outcome of an investigation.
"This is a perfect example of the department's intent regarding the appointment of correctional police officers," said superintendent Bruce Lemmon. "It is an effective, efficient process by which authorized staff have the power to detain and arrest those who choose to engage in criminal activity in our prisons.
"I commend Troy Keith and Deanna Lanning for their efforts, and thank Deputy Wallace and the Putnam County Sheriff Department for their cooperation and assistance," he added.
The incident marks the first arrest by a correctional police officer at the Putnamville Correctional Facility. Keith is one of 46 Indiana Department of Correction staff, sworn in on Feb. 5 and granted the power of arrest, by Honorable Judge Tanya Walton-Pratt.