2 cellphones taken from D.C. jail inmate

Authorities seized two cellphones from a D.C. jail inmate last month, court records show.

A D.C. corrections officer seized the two pre-paid cellphones Sept. 23 from Christopher Bailey, 31, who is being held at the jail's Central Treatment Facility on federal drug charges, according to court papers asking a judge to allow authorities to search the phones' contents.

The Drug Enforcement Administration wants to examine them for contact numbers and text messages, authorities wrote in court papers. "Use of cell phones by inmates at the D.C. jail is regarded as a threat to the security of the institution," a DEA agent wrote in the court papers, which were made public Monday.

Jail officials did not respond to e-mails and phone calls seeking comment. Corrections officers, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to comment publicly, said they seize cellphones once or twice a month at the D.C. facility. John Rosser, vice chairman of the union for D.C. corrections officers, said inmates with illicit cellphones "is a national epidemic . . . we would be fools to ignore."