Delaware County Jail inmate accused of having a shank

A Delaware County Jail inmate has been charged after officials found a homemade gun hidden in his bedding.

Delaware County detectives filed weapons charges against Frank Martin, 45, Philadelphia, after jail officials discovered him with a shank.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Detective William Swanson:

On October 21, just before 5 p.m., guards at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility received information that an inmate was in possession of contraband.

According to the information, Martin had a prison-made weapon, a shank, hidden in his mattress.

Officials searched his cell and found the shaft hidden in the mattress of the bottom bunk. The weapon was a hard piece of plastic about 7 inches long, sharpened to a point and with a blue cloth handle.

Martin had been alone in that cell since September 12.

Court records show Martin served one to two years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy – receiving stolen property. He was also ordered to pay $2,009 in restitution to a Tesla dealer in Devon.

Martin has not yet been charged on the shaft allegations.