Investigator & jailer arrests latest in Webster County Sheriff saga

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- A former investigator for the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Landon Griffin, and a female jailer, Santana Townsend, have both been arrested and booked in the Oktibbeha County Jail.

According to Lt. Brett Watson, Griffin is being charged with trafficking firearms and embezzlement.

The two were arrested on Monday.

Townsend is being charged with two counts of sexual activity with an inmate, furnishing contraband to an inmate, as well as sale and possession of a controlled substance.

Griffin’s arrest is the latest chapter in the Webster County Sheriff’s Saga.

You may remember, it was just last month when WCBI first reported that Sheriff Tim Mitchell was arrested and is now facing 12 felony charges.

Those charges include attempting a sexual act with an inmate, giving weapons to an inmate, and embezzlement accusations.

The arrest comes shortly after Mitchell announced he’d be stepping down from the position as sheriff.

Mitchell would later rescind that resignation and the Webster County Board of Supervisors accepted the letter.

However, two circuit court judges then stepped in and issued an order putting Chief Deputy Andy McCants in charge of day-to-day operations while Mitchell is locked up.

Griffin was fired from his position shortly after Mitchell was arrested.

Griffin was the first investigator at the sheriff’s office when he was brought on back in 2016 and has played a key role in many of the department’s cases.

Now, he’s the most recent law enforcement officer to get arrested in this on-going investigation.

Bond for Griffin has been set at $50,000. Townsend’s bond is set at $25,000.