ST. CLAIR COUNTY — A man was arrested after he allegedly attempted to smuggle drugs and cell phones into the St. Clair Correctional Facility Wednesday night.

The suspect was identified by Brian Colbert, the Alabama Department of Corrections public information officer, as Markus Stearnes, 19, of Leeds.

Authorities say Stearnes was charged with possession of marijuana first-degree, possession of a controlled substance, and attempting to distribute a controlled substance.

Stearnes was taken into custody about 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, after guards saw him running and walking down the road next to the prison fence and became suspicious.

Colbert said two packages were recovered. The packages held 16 cell phones, 11 chargers, various pills and two plastic bags with marijuana, one CD and three phone batteries.

“He was attempting to deliver the items over the fence,” Colbert said.

Colbert said authorities do not know who the items were being delivered to inside the prison, but that the matter is still under investigation.