CHATTOOGA COUNTY, Ga. — A 22-year-old Atlanta man was arrested Saturday evening after authorities say he attempted to introduce a large amount of contraband into Hays State Prison, according to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were alerted around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, to a suspicious male carrying a duffle bag who entered a wooded area off Underwood Drive near the Georgia Department of Corrections Hays State Prison. Deputies responded along with Trion Police officers, Hays State Prison Warden Jones, and prison staff, who established a perimeter around the area.

Sheriff’s Office Investigator Daniel Sanford, a certified drone pilot, deployed a thermal drone to assist in the search. Authorities said Sanford quickly located the individual and tracked his movements, relaying his location to officers on the ground. Investigators believe the suspect may have exited the woods after being startled by nearby property owners who were hunting coyotes in the area.

The suspect later emerged near the Verizon store along Highway 27, where deputies and an off-duty Summerville Police officer were positioned. He was taken into custody without incident. Authorities said the man initially provided false identifying information and claimed he had entered the woods to use the bathroom.

Following the arrest, deputies, prison officials, and a Gordon County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a search of the wooded area. Investigators located a large backpack containing 21 packages of marijuana and tobacco, more than 20 cell phones, an electric rotary cutting tool with metal blades, security bits, a handheld driver, and other items considered contraband. Two additional similar packages were discovered Sunday morning in the same area by K-9 Kendy and Deputy Nick Robinson.

The suspect was identified as Demarco Letroy Statham Jr., 22, of Atlanta. Prison officials said Statham had been released from another Georgia prison several months earlier.

Statham was charged with felony criminal attempt to provide contraband to an inmate, felony possession of more than one ounce of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, felony use of a communication facility to commit a felony, misdemeanor obstruction of an officer, misdemeanor criminal trespass, misdemeanor loitering and prowling, and misdemeanor possession of drug-related objects.

Sheriff Mark A. Schrader praised the coordinated response among agencies, stating that his office and Hays State Prison staff take attempts to introduce contraband seriously and work aggressively to prevent such activity.

All charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.