There’s been another incident involving drugs that sickened female inmates in the Habersham County jail.
According to Habersham County Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Matt Wurtz, five women in custody became ill Wednesday evening, August 25, and had to be treated at the local hospital.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office and GBI initiated an investigation. Their preliminary findings reveal Chassy Leigh Abbott, 32, of Alto, allegedly brought the drugs into the cell block. Abbott was booked into the Habersham County Detention Center on a felony probation violation the morning of August 25.
“Abbott used her own body to smuggle suspected drugs into the jail and, once in her assigned cell block, distributed the drug to several other inmates,” Lt. Wurtz says.
It’s unclear specifically what type of drug was involved; that remains under investigation.
All of the inmates that consumed the suspected drug were treated at Habersham Medical Center. One inmate was admitted to the hospital while the rest were treated and returned to jail.
As a result of the incident, deputies charged Abbott with four counts of reckless conduct, one count of conspiracy to distribute a Schedule 1 narcotic, and one count of possession of drugs by an inmate.
They also charged another inmate, 41-year-old Ginger Bridges of Cornelia, with possession of a Schedule 1 narcotic and possession of drugs by an inmate. She too was in jail on a probation violation at the time of the incident, Wurtz says.
In late May, officers charged Stacy Collins of Alto with distributing drugs inside the Habersham County jail. Ten female inmates were sent to the hospital as a result of that incident.
Abbott’s bond is set at $20,400 and Bridges’ is $11,200, online records show. Officials say Wednesday’s incident remains under investigation. More charges may be filed.
