Jail guard accused of trying to smuggle drugs

A corrections officer from Bedford faces drug-related charges after being accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility.

Malcolm Stephen Beaton, 49, faces two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. He was arrested as part of an ongoing drug investigation, said Halifax Regional Police.

Beaton, of Bedford, was arrested at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday as he was about to enter the jail at the Burnside Industrial Park. He was held overnight and placed in protective custody.

Halifax Regional Police allege he had tobacco, marijuana, hydromorphone, drug paraphernalia and cash on him when he was arrested. Officers will also be searching Beaton's vehicle, which was seized at the scene.

The provincial Department of Justice announced it had started its own internal investigation into the matter. Justice Minister Ross Landry said his department is also looking at the hiring practices of jail guards.

"We know that there's illicit contraband that gets into institutions and the avenues for that are, I guess, only limited by one's imagination," he told reporters Friday.

"You have to balance the integrity of the employees and their discipline to act professionally. On the odd occasion — and this is an exception to the rule — we have someone that is alleged to have breached those conditions and was arrested for that."

Beaton was granted bail with stringent conditions including house arrest with one of four named people at home with him. $20,000 in property surety has been posted.

Beaton is due back in court Nov. 28 for plea.