A Yazoo County leader is concerned about safety at the county jail after he discovered one of the entrance gates was left unlocked.
Supervisor David Shipp said he was able to enter the Yazoo County Regional Correctional Facility through an unlocked gate and walked into the county side reception area without seeing a guard.
“The inside gate was wide open,” Shipp said. “I walked on up to the building, went inside and never did see anybody. I had locked the gate behind and couldn’t get back out. I had to bang on the window to get somebody out there to where I was. When somebody did come out, they told me I wasn’t supposed to be in there. I told him the gate was wide open, and I walked on in.”
After sitting outside in his vehicle, Shipp said he saw a bail bondsman open the entrance gate but did not shut it fully.
“I saw it with my own eyes,” Shipp said. “I am concerned with that gate being left open.”
Warden Gary Edwards said it is a supervisor’s responsibility to make sure the gates are properly locked.
“We had training on it,” Edwards said. “But I can take care of this situation. I apologize for that, and I will deal with it.”
“But David, you said when you walked in, you didn’t see anybody,” said Supervisor Willie Wright. “Bring that up to the warden.”
“We don’t have a receptionist on the county side,” Edwards replied. “Everyone who comes into the facility, comes in on the state side. We will check you in there before you can go over to the county side. But they should be paying attention to that gate being unlocked. We will take care of that.”
