By Carol Robinson
Alabama Media Group, Birmingham
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ala. — An east Alabama man thought he was spreading some holiday cheer to Cherokee County inmates. Now he’s one of them.
Authorities say Michael G. Brown, 39, was driving along Highway 411 Thursday when he spotted the detention center inmates putting up U.S. flags for the Avenue of Flags. As he was passing by, said Sheriff Jeff Shaver, Brown tossed out multiple cigarettes to the inmates.
Sheriff’s Cpl. Nick Vaughn saw what happened and pulled over Brown, who was deemed intoxicated. “He said, ‘I know they can’t have tobacco in the jail, but it is the Fourth of July,’’’ Shaver said. “Apparently he thought it would be a good idea.”
Sheriff’s officials thought otherwise. They booked Brown in the jail on charges of third-degree promoting prison contraband and DUI.
“We do everything we can to keep contraband out of the jail,’’ the sheriff said. “We don’t need the public throwing it to them.”
©2019 Alabama Media Group, Birmingham