LOXLEY, Alabama – An employee with the Loxley prison work camp has resigned after his arrest following several banned items discovered during a routine search of his vehicle.

Patrol Sgt. Billy Coley, public information officer with the Loxley Police Department, said they are conducting an ongoing investigation in cooperation with the Baldwin County Department of Corrections after “several bags full of contraband” were found in the vehicle of Anthony Hawthorne, 45, of Eight Mile, a cook at the facility.

Included among the items were a loaded handgun, synthetic marijuana or Spice, which is considered a controlled substance, and various food and tobacco products.

Baldwin County Department of Corrections records show that Hawthorne was booked into the facility at 12:22 p.m. Sunday, April 21 and charged with one count, promoting prison contraband, first degree; one count, promoting prison contraband, second degree; one count, promoting prison contraband, third degree and possession of a controlled substance. He remains in jail on a $22,500 bond.

It is unknown whether or not this was an isolated incident, Coley said.

“We are conducting an ongoing investigation  and the Department of Corrections is cooperating fully with that investigation,” he said. Additional charges could be filed pending the results of the investigation, Coley said.