By Marlana Smith
The Shelby County Jail recently had bed bugs but is currently on the back side of the issue.
Shelby County Sheriff Arron Fredrickson said the issue arose at the beginning of January. When the situation occurred 12 men and four women were being held in jail.
“We offered all the inmates to move to another jail and they said no they wanted to stay,” said Sheriff Fredrickson.
Sheriff Fredrickson said the jail is and has been using special laundry detergent and chemical sprays which are safe for the inmates to be around. Reliable has recently came and sprayed.
Fredrickson and many others have been doing all that is needed and required to get rid of the bed bugs. All mattresses were switched out.
Sheriff Fredrickson said it takes about 30 days or so for the bed bugs to die.
“With the new jail we will be able to deal with situations like this more accurately and efficiently, there will be a showering process,” said Fredrickson.
Fredrickson said as of right now they are not seeing any bed bugs, but they are still taking every precaution, so they don’t return in full force. They will continue to do so until they know for sure they are all gone.
Sheriff Fredrickson told the Herald Friday, February 9, 2024, that he spoke with inmates and there have been no issues for several days.
