Scott County officers locate weapons hidden in jail mattress

A Sikeston, Missouri, man already in jail on robbery and assault charges is accused of hiding improvised weapons in his mattress.

Terrell Taylor, 25, was already in Scott County Jail on charges that included robbery, assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon from a 2014 case.

He faces additional charges after Scott County corrections officers reported finding two improvised weapons hidden in his mattress Sunday.

Scott County assistant prosecuting attorney Robert Horack filed charges of felony concealing a prohibited article on the premises of the jail, felony damage to jail property and misdemeanor concealing prohibited articles on the premises of the jail Thursday.

Deputy Sheriff Danny Finley wrote in a probable-cause affidavit officers located a large tear in the mattress near the seam that housed lighters, a small amount of tobacco and two weapons. One weapon was made with an electronic cigarette, a comb and a sharpened piece of metal. The other was made of large piece of round metal, with a handle made of cardboard and plastic wrap.

“The weapons appeared to have been assembled for the use of causing serious physical injury to corrections staff and other inmates,” Finley wrote.

Finley wrote the mattress was damaged beyond repair, accounting for the damage to jail property charge.

Taylor said he did not know the weapons were in his cell, Finley wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 131 S. New Madrid St., Benton, MO.