The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office is taking every precaution to help contain the spread of COVID-19, one of which is booking out inmates with pre-existing conditions.

Sheriff Marty Arganbright explains which inmates they are booking out at this time, “It is for non-violent offenders, it’s people that may be in here to do a mittimus, they had time to do and it’s not something that would endanger the community or public, we would not do that. But if it’s someone that we don’t really need in jail and they can do their sentence at a later date that’s what we are doing.”

With the courthouse being closed Arganbright adds his staff is also bringing in the inmates’ meals that are delivered down to the jail, in order to limit possible exposure to COVID-19. Keeping the deputies’ health and the 10-person capacity of the jail in mind, Arganbright says they are being more “reactive than proactive” when it comes to day-to-day law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office is still performing its duty, so residents are reminded to inform the dispatch if they have been ill or have a fever when they call to request a deputy for a call of service. The non-emergency number is 641-747-2214.