Jail employee accused of stealing from inmates

CHICAGO (AP) – A Cook County Jail employee has been accused of stealing money from inmates as they were processed into the facility.

According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, Tyrone McDowell Jr. of Blue Island is charged with official misconduct, forgery and theft.

Authorities say McDowell handled money turned in by inmates when they first arrive at the jail. Once the money is counted, the inmates are given a receipt.

Sheriff officials say auditors noticed this summer an altered receipt and informed the department. The holder of the altered receipt also alerted sheriff’s investigators after he was bonded out. He claimed that while receipt showed he turned in $500 before being processed into jail, only $200 was returned.

Authorities say additional doctored receipts were traced back to McDowell, who was arrested Thursday and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bond.