A former Durham County detention officer has been arrested for supplying illegal substances and conspiring with an inmate at the Durham County Detention Center. Deputies announced Thursday that former Sgt. Nicole Locke, 45, of Raleigh, faces multiple charges related to her alleged actions.
According to arrest warrants, Locke provided inmate Darrius L. Tyson—a convicted murderer and kidnapper—with a cell phone and a vape device. Additionally, Locke is accused of conspiring to embezzle Tyson. She has been charged with two counts of perjury, one count of forgery, and one count of criminally providing a cell phone.
The arrest comes on the same day as the separate apprehension of former contractor Briana Ashley Bowie on unrelated drug charges.
Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead emphasized the seriousness of the allegations. “I will not stand for any activity that conflicts with our duty in the care and custody of the people incarcerated at the Durham County Detention Facility,” Birkhead said in a statement. “Whether it’s a sheriff’s office employee or a contractor, we must hold everyone who interacts with our residents to a higher standard.”
Locke was released on a $15,000 unsecured bond and is no longer associated with the sheriff’s office, according to Birkhead.
Stay tuned to Bull City Citizen for updates on this developing story and other local crime news.
