Pubdate: Tue, 05 Apr 2011
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2011 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Jeff Cummings, Edmonton Sun
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors
may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been
convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or
officials.

REMAND CENTRE OFFICER CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING

City cops are accusing a guard at the Edmonton Remand Centre of
smuggling drugs and lighters to inmates in the downtown clink.

That's after police wrapped up a four-month investigation into
claims that staff at the downtown holding facility made in November
2010 that drugs were being sent to prisoners there.

The investigation resulted in a guard, three inmates, and "two
individuals from outside the prison," being charged with a
number of drug and trafficking related offenses, say city cops.

"There was one particular guard that was involved with bringing
drugs into the institution who would further disseminate the drugs to
other prisoners," said Insp. Greg Preston, the head of the
police service's organized crimes unit.

"We know that drugs are getting into the institution and this
was an opportunity for us to work on a very important matter, and
unfortunately, this did involve a correctional officer," he said.

Preston says the "two individuals" were responsible for
getting and then giving the drugs to the guard, who would then
allegedly hand over to the inmates.

And the guard was also allegedly paid cash by the individuals for
making that delivery into the downtown jail, Preston said.

Police also say investigators seized a number of items form the
guard's car and home, including some cocaine, lighters, tobacco
and marijuana. However, no drugs were ever seized at the remand centre
by police, confirms Preston.

Drugs that are found in the prison are worth 10 times their street
value, says Preston.

The lighters, which are banned in the prison because it's also
illegal to smoke tobacco to in the facility, usually sell for $100,
Preston says.

"It's like normal supply and demand," said Preston.
Preston says a bail of tobacco will also usually sell for $500 and the
marijuana will sell for about $150 a gram inside the clink.

James Maloney, a spokesman with the province's solicitor
general's office, says an internal investigation will be done at
the remand centre to se if any policy changes are needed for its staff.

"This is going to take as long as it needs to take," said
Maloney. "Depending on what's discovered, we will take
appropriate action.

"The fact that the drugs were (allegedly) found before they
actually entered the system is a good example of the effectiveness of
our processes to keep drugs out of the institutions."

Maloney says the 21-year-old guard has worked at the jail for two
years and he has been "relieved of his duties."

James Brian Johnstone, a correctional peace officer at the remand
centre, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- --" trafficking in a controlled substance for the purpose of
trafficking cocaine, one count of possession of a controlled substance
for the purpose of trafficking marijuana and one count of possession
of a controlled substance.

[name1 redacted], 31, [name2 redacted], 24, [name3 redacted], 37, 
[name4 redacted], 31, and [name5 redacted], 23,
are each charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence --"
trafficking in a controlled substance.

Three inmates at the centre were charged by police in November 2010
after staff at the jail discovered small amounts of meth and
prescription drugs in a letter that was addressed to an inmate.

The letter, which was found by staff in July, was labeled
"client" privileged.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.