Harnett detention officer fired, charged with selling cigarettes to inmates

A former Harnett County Sheriff's Office employee was charged Tuesday with selling cigarettes to inmates in the county jail, authorities said.

Michael Tandy, who was fired two weeks ago, was charged with eight counts of selling or giving tobacco to an inmate and one count of failing to discharge duties. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

The sheriff's office conducted an internal investigation after getting a tip that a a detention officer selling contraband to inmates, and investigators were able to link multiple sales of tobacco to inmates by Tandy between May and July, authorities said.

"I require all employees to demonstrate professional and ethical conduct both on and off duty," Sheriff Wayne Coats said in a statement. "This incident was not simply a mistake or bad decision on Mr. Tandy’s part, it was a terrible decision to commit an illegal act that reflects negatively on the reputation of every honest, professional, upstanding employee of the Harnett County Detention Center. I am extremely disappointed in his actions."

Tandy, 27, started work with the sheriff's office in April.