Pasco deputy arrested over jail contraband allegations

A Pasco County deputy was arrested Tuesday after an investigation revealed he was allowing inmates to receive smokeless tobacco at a work site near the Land O' Lakes Jail, the sheriff's office said.

Brian M. Call, 35, has worked for the sheriff's office since July 2007; his yearly salary is $40,376. He has been on unpaid administrative leave since Dec. 21 and will be fired, said sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll.

Although Call was a patrol deputy, he also was supervising inmates who were working on construction of the hangar that will house the department's aviation unit. The hangar is on the jail property, which is off U.S. 41 south of State Road 52.

Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 7, Call used his personal cell phone and called some inmates' girlfriends to tell them to bring smokeless tobacco to the site for the inmates, an arrest report states.

Call received tobacco from inmates on three occasions after the women visited the hangar and also admitted to giving inmates his own smokeless tobacco while he was on duty, the report states.

The allegations surfaced Dec. 7, when an inmate notified Deputy Karl Crawford, who also had supervisory duties at the hangar. Call was placed on paid leave three days later, Doll said.

Call was booked into the Land O' Lakes Jail on charges of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior and introduction of contraband into a detention facility. Both charges are felonies.

He posted $15,000 bail and was released shortly after his arrest. He couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

"It is always disappointing when a member of our office is arrested," Sheriff Bob White said in a statement. "The Pasco County Sheriff's Office holds itself to extremely high standards and we continuously strive to maintain the public trust."

No inmates have been charged in the incidents, but Doll said the investigation continues.

Since construction began in September, about 10 inmates have worked on the hangar. They work 13 hours a day and six days a week, the sheriff's office said. Call was selected to help supervise because he had worked in the construction industry, Doll said.

The inmates' sentences are reduced by 1 1/2 days for every 40 hours worked, Doll said.

The hangar is expected to be completed next month.