CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Division of Corrections investigators will look into allegations that a prison work crew from a McDowell County correctional facility were stripped and searched last week along the side of the road in view of the public.

Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein said he was aware of the incident, but that officials with the McDowell County-owned prison said the men were only stripped to their boxer shorts and were not in the view of passing motorists or houses.

"We'll have at least one of our folks down there to determine if everything was handled properly," the commissioner said Friday.

According to Rubenstein, a report he received said the prisoners were cutting brush in the Northfork area Wednesday afternoon when someone saw a passing motorist toss a package to one or more prisoners.

The prison sent four correctional officers to the site, along with Northfork police, he said. Initially, he said the plan was to put the crew back on buses and search them at the facility. However, "a couple" of inmates were acting oddly and guards decided to search them prior to getting on the bus.

"Sadly, in our line of work, that threat of contraband can be anything," Rubenstein said, noting it could have been some type of gun or other weapon.

The decision was then made to search all the inmates before allowing them on the bus, he said.

"They had them isolated out of sight of houses and the road," he said.

The men were stripped down to their boxer shorts, then patted down, Rubenstein said.

"There was something found and the city police department was handling that end of it," Rubenstein said.

What was found was a pack of cigarettes, said Sid Bell, McDowell County's prosecuting attorney.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Division of Corrections investigators will look into allegations that a prison work crew from a McDowell County correctional facility were stripped and searched last week along the side of the road in view of the public.

Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein said he was aware of the incident, but that officials with the McDowell County-owned prison said the men were only stripped to their boxer shorts and were not in the view of passing motorists or houses.

"We'll have at least one of our folks down there to determine if everything was handled properly," the commissioner said Friday.

According to Rubenstein, a report he received said the prisoners were cutting brush in the Northfork area Wednesday afternoon when someone saw a passing motorist toss a package to one or more prisoners.

The prison sent four correctional officers to the site, along with Northfork police, he said. Initially, he said the plan was to put the crew back on buses and search them at the facility. However, "a couple" of inmates were acting oddly and guards decided to search them prior to getting on the bus.

"Sadly, in our line of work, that threat of contraband can be anything," Rubenstein said, noting it could have been some type of gun or other weapon.

The decision was then made to search all the inmates before allowing them on the bus, he said.

"They had them isolated out of sight of houses and the road," he said.

The men were stripped down to their boxer shorts, then patted down, Rubenstein said.

"There was something found and the city police department was handling that end of it," Rubenstein said.

What was found was a pack of cigarettes, said Sid Bell, McDowell County's prosecuting attorney.

Rubenstein said if everything occurred as he has been told, then correctional officers acted properly for their safety and the safety of other prisoners.

"That's not what my son is telling me and I really believe my son because he wouldn't have me call [the newspaper]," said Sandra Hodge of Columbus, Ohio.

Her son, who was one of the inmates, told his mother that all of the inmates stripped and were given their clothes back by guards as they got on the bus.

"People were riding by on their four-wheelers," she said, adding her son also said houses were visible.

Hodge said there was a meeting Thursday and "the officers were telling [inmates] what to do about it."

"I was told they were completely stripped," said John Madison Sr. of Maryland, whose son was also involved. "My son said they were trying to sweep this under the rug and cover it up."

He was pleased to hear state officials will investigate and hopes they speak with inmates. "As long as someone is looking into it because there's always two sides to a coin," he said.

The men were being held at Stevens Correctional Center, a former health clinic located in Welch. The McDowell County Commission renovated it, making it into a minimum-security prison that currently houses nearly 400 inmates.

About 160 McDowell County employees work there, although the state Division of Corrections has a contract with the facility to provide inmates and oversee it.

Rubenstein, who has been on the road touring other facilities this week, promised the incident would be thoroughly checked.

Reach Tom Searls at tomsea...@wvgazette.com or 348-5198.