Gun in Prison Leads to Security Changes

The failure of law enforcement officers to find a gun smuggled into intake unit will lead to significant security changes at the building, county officials said Monday.

Late last year, Christian Neith, 20, of Bethlehem was arrested and searched four times -- twice in Bethlehem and twice at the prison. No one who searched him found the gun that law enforcement officials now say Neith had hidden behind his belt. Neith faces new charges, and is expected to turn himself in Tuesday.

Eight days after he arrived at the prison, employees found the handgun he's accused of smuggling into the building hidden away behind a file cabinet.

"It's a good wake-up call," county Corrections Director Robert Meyers told reporters at a news conference Monday.

County Executive John Stoffa said the prison guard who missed the gun during the search no longer works for the county, but refused to clarify whether the guard had been fired or resigned.

"That's all I'm going to say: they're no longer employed," Stoffa said. He also declined to name the individuals involved.

And Sheriff Randall Miller said he is "fairly confident" there will be some sort of disciplinary action against the deputies involved in the search, depending on the results of an internal investigation. 

Meyers said there are more wide-spread changes in store for the prison. First of all, corrections officers have begun using metal detector wands on all new arrivals. In the past, it was basically done at the guards' discretion.

"Now it's carte blanche. Everybody gets it," Meyers said.

Meyers said the county will also be purchasing a new metal detecting chair, and requiring two guards to be on duty in the intake unit at all times. Miller said they will also be retraining officers to be more thorough when searching the "genital area" of new prisoners.

It's uncomfortable search, Miller said, but added that "unfortunately, it's an area that's very common for hiding drugs and other contraband."

A more careful search might have turned up the gun, but Stoffa pointed out that four different searches managed to miss the fact that Neith had it with him.

"Not to be a wiseguy about it, but he ought to work for the CIA," Stoffa said of Neith.

Stoffa said he wasn't going to put any of them blame on Bethlehem police, noting that although they were the first line of search, "we were the final line.

"Maybe we didn't do the job that we were supposed to do," he said, and added that he will discuss the issue with Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. 

Bethlehem Police Commissioner Stuart Bedics has said his department is conducting an internal investigation into the matter. He could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Earlier this month, members of county council expressed their disgust with the way the prison is being handled, in light of the gun incident and the revelation that an were suspected of running a contraband business.

Councilman Lamont McClure said at council's Feb. 3 meeting that he thought the prison's top officials should be replaced.

“I would start by removing everyone there,” he said.

Councilman Ron Angle also said he felt the prison's directorship should be held accountable.

“What I want to hear is that we're cleaning house,” he said. “You can't just keep shuffling the same people around and expect it will change.”

The salary of the top corrections officer in the county is substantial and could attract someone better, Angle suggested.

“This can't keep going on over there. It really can't,” he said.

Patch freelance contributor Christina Georgiou contributed to this story.