CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The discovery of marijuana, a razor blade and a gun prove that increased security measures at the Bradley County Courthouse have had a strong impact, a sheriff’s office official said Friday.
In the first three days that a new security checkpoint was in operation, a small bag of marijuana was found in front of the courthouse and a razor blade was found wrapped in toilet paper and discarded in the women’s restroom, sheriff’s department spokesman Bob Gault said.
Both items hastily were disposed of before their owners reached the checkpoint, Capt. Eric Watson said.
“Another woman got to the magnetometer and realized she was carrying a handgun in her purse,” Watson said.
The incidents show that people have been bringing guns, knives and other objects that can be used as weapons into the county’s courtrooms, Watson said.
The heightened security is the result of new measures implemented by Bradley County Sheriff Jim Ruth, who took office Aug. 31.
Two officers staff the second-floor checkpoint, Sgt. James Dearth said. In the first three days of operation, 1,100 people came through it, he said.
“The sheriff’s department has never really had the staff to man the magnetometer and the metal detector until the recent administration change,” Dearth said.
New signs posted in the stairway list forbidden items, but it’s the same list that has been posted in the judicial complex for years, Dearth said. He recommends that court visitors arrive a few minutes earlier to allow time for the checkpoint.
“The only complaints I’ve had are about the inconvenience to people,” he said. “But I appreciate everybody’s cooperation with it so far. We’re just trying to maintain a good, safe building for the attorneys, the judges, and everybody who visits the second floor.”
In addition to the new checkpoint, the doors to the courthouse’s second floor from the Ocoee Street ramp received new locks Friday morning.
James Bryant, of Jebco Glass Co. in Cleveland, installed the locks on the 46-year-old doors.
“We fixed things to where they were still able to use the existing doors without spending a fortune to put new doors in up here,” he said.
People no longer can enter the courthouse through those doors, but due to fire code the new locks still allow people to exit, Gault said.
He said the new setup won’t bother courthouse visitors who need to conduct business with offices on the first floor.