Four arrested after alleged contraband was thrown over Ridgeville prison fence

Four people were arrested after allegedly throwing Pringles cans packed with contraband over the fence at MacDougall Correctional Institution in Ridgeville, according to reports based on information from the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

The alleged fence-toss incident occurred July 23, 2026, at the state correctional facility on Old Gilliard Road in Ridgeville, Dorchester County. The arrests are the confirmed local development in a case involving an active prison facility in the community.

What officials said happened

Officials said the Pringles cans were used to carry contraband over the prison fence. The reports describe the activity as an alleged contraband scheme. They do not establish that the four people arrested have been convicted of any offense.

MacDougall Correctional Institution is located in Ridgeville, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections identified the facility as the location of the incident. The case therefore involves a state correctional institution directly tied to the town, rather than an incident reported only generally within the region.

What is known—and what is not

The source packet confirms four arrests and the alleged use of Pringles cans, but it does not name the people arrested. It also does not identify the exact contents of the alleged contraband or provide complete charging details.

Those limits matter as the case moves through the legal process. An arrest is not a conviction, and the available reports do not include a court ruling, finding of guilt or final disposition. The packet also does not support linking the incident to a broader crime trend in Ridgeville.

The available information documents an alleged attempt to get prohibited items into an active state prison and the resulting arrests. It does not report a change in prison operations, a public advisory, injuries or other effects on residents, workers, visitors or nearby businesses.

Timeline and next steps

The incident date was July 23, 2026. WYFF published its report on July 24, and Corrections1 published its report on July 27. Both reports tied the case to MacDougall Correctional Institution and attributed key details to officials or the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

The approved source packet does not provide a court date, additional deadline or other next procedural step for the people arrested. It also does not say whether additional charges or investigative findings are expected. Any such details would need to be confirmed through the department, arrest records, warrants or court filings.

For Ridgeville, the immediate verified development is that four people were arrested in connection with an alleged effort to throw contraband over the fence at MacDougall Correctional Institution. The exact allegations and legal outcome remain unresolved in the available reporting.