Latest news with #EricBalentine
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Colbert County Sheriff's Office joins program to work alongside ICE
COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Colbert County Sheriff's Office has been asked by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to join a program called 287 G, a program that allows the sheriff's office to work alongside ICE. The sheriff's office will choose to participate in one or more of the 3 modules in the program. 3 Colbert County Schools placed under 'secure perimeter,' sheriff says no threat to schools Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine told News 19 what modules they want to pursue. 'There is a task force module, there is a warrant service module and there is a corrections module, we are interested in the corrections module and the warrant service,' Balentine said. Sheriff Eric Balentine explains that the program allows local law enforcement agencies to detain or arrest immigrants without ICE being present. 'It's not something that we're gonna be going into schools and taking children,' Balentine said. 'Right now, we're concerned with our violent immigrants, they are here breaking laws abducting, killing, raping, committing serious crimes. We're gonna do whatever ICE asks us to do, whatever they need is.' He says that changes the rules as they currently stand. 'As it stands right now, if we come in contact with someone that is wanted by ICE or has a detainer on them, if we don't have a state or local charge, then we can't hold them for just that reason,' Balentine said. Cat, snake and lizard all saved from house fire in Florence Sunday evening Sheriff Balentine told News 19, it's a rare occurrence in Colbert County to have a felon deported. He says there has only been one within the last few months. 'We're here to help and we want people to be in this country and we want people to do it the right way. There's a right way to do it, but if you're here and you're breaking laws, then you're gonna be deported,' Balentine said. As for what's next, Balentine says the Colbert County Sheriff's Office is pending participant status, and a training will follow. According to the ICE website, as of Wednesday, seven agencies in Alabama are participants, one being the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. The website also shows that three agencies in Alabama are pending participants, including the Colbert and Limestone County Sheriff's Offices. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New life saving device added to Colbert County Jail for inmates and corrections officers
COLBERT COUNTY, Ala.(WHNT)– The Colbert County Jail now has a new life-saving device that would help inmates or corrections officers in the event of a medical emergency. Every second counts during a medical emergency. The Sheriff's Office recently purchased, the new device–called 'Lucas Device' to help corrections officers when they need to give an inmate or fellow employee, chest compressions. Sheriff Eric Balentine, says the device would help respond to the medical emergency in a more efficient way. 'This instrument is made so that goes the right depth, that it does a chest compressions correctly, and it frees up the exercise of hands' Balentine said. Sheriff Balentine tells News 19, the Lucas device is put over someone's body, the user then presses a button and the automatic compressions begin. The device was paid for by the opioid settlement proceeds. Balentine says, this device could save lives if drugs are brought into the jail by inmates, in which Balentine says, is a rare occurrence. 'People get in jail they have ways of getting contraband in and a lot of times that is an opioid, and if they overdose, which is pretty common on opioids, this device is really going to come in handy for us to just give an extra life-saving measure and have it on hand' Balentine said. Balentine says even though a person is in jail for a crime, it's the Sheriff's Office duty to make sure inmates are safe. 'It's our responsibility to ensure the well-being in the health and the safety of our inmates. As part of our job is keeping psych and provide life-saving measures if need be so this will just ensure that we have another tool toolbox if someone has a cardiac event' Balentine said. Balentine tells News 19, he hopes to get a few more of these Lucas Devices' for patrol deputies out in the field. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
