DEPUTY ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES

Sources Say Man Was Going To Smuggle Cocaine Into Jail

A man sworn to protect the public and safely escort prisoners has been
arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the provincial jail system.

Tyrone David was picked up Friday morning after he allegedly met up
with a woman at a strip mall parking lot in the 300 block of Pleasant
Street in Dartmouth. The meeting and alleged transaction took place
just before 9 a.m., police said.

Both the 40-year-old deputy sheriff, who was in uniform at the time,
and the woman left in separate cars. She was later arrested after she
was pulled over by police on Chadwick Street.

The deputy sheriff was taken into custody in the parking lot of the
Dartmouth provincial courthouse, not far away.

On Friday evening, police sent out a news release saying they had
charged Mr. David, 40, with 12 counts of possession of narcotics for
the purpose of trafficking.

Kathleen Kierans, 22, has been charged with 12 counts of
trafficking.

Justice Minister Ross Landry said Friday that the sheriff, who's been
on the job about five years, is on paid administrative leave.

Police wouldn't reveal what kind of drugs were allegedly exchanged
during the meeting, but sources told this newspaper that a quantity of
cocaine and cash were involved, and were passed from the woman to the
deputy sheriff.

Sources said the woman is the girlfriend of well-known crime figure
Jimmy Melvin Jr. but police would not confirm that report.

Mr. Melvin didn't appear in court Friday morning but his lawyer, Josh
Arnold, made an appearance on his behalf.

Mr. Melvin's case was on the docket Friday so a date could be set for
his preliminary hearing on charges of possessing a weapon for a
dangerous purpose, violating a weapons prohibition order, being in a
vehicle that contained a prohibited weapon and possessing ecstasy and
an anti-anxiety drug. He also faces charges of breaching bail
conditions from a previous release.

It's not believed Mr. Melvin, who'll be back in court on Nov. 18 for
the preliminary hearing along with two co-accused, will face any
charges in connection with Friday's arrests, the sources said.

Mr. Arnold said Friday that he couldn't comment on any connection
between the 22-year-old woman who was arrested and his client. He said
he hadn't heard anything about the deputy sheriff's or the woman's
arrest.

Halifax Regional Police spokeswoman Theresa Rath said officers didn't
randomly stumble across the drug deal.

"This investigation occurred over a series of days. We were acting on
information that we had received," she said Friday.

Ms. Rath wouldn't reveal what makes police think the drugs were going
to the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth.

"We can't get into why we think that, but suffice it to say that based
on the evidence that was seized, we believe that the drugs were
destined for transportation into the corrections system. Our
investigation will continue (looking) as to where (the drugs) may have
been destined and to whom."

She said police haven't received information to suggest that any other
deputy sheriffs were involved.

Mr. Landry called the situation very disappointing.

"It's always a concern when one of your employees is alleged to be
involved in illicit activities," he told reporters at Province House.
""It raises a concern."

He said the positive in the situation is that drugs were kept out of
the Burnside jail.

"That's our goal and if any of our employees are involved in drug
usage, we have a zero tolerance policy and we adhere to that strongly."

Aside from the police force's investigation, Justice Department
officials are also conducting their own probe.

Mr. Landry said officials believe it is an isolated incident. But
Liberal justice critic Michel Samson said there have been lots of
stories about drug use in prison, so he thinks the Justice Department
investigation should be fairly broad.

"It might be time for the minister to take a look and determine
exactly how is it that illegal drugs continue to get inside of our
correctional facilities in light of the protocols that one would think
are in place to prevent that from happening," said Mr. Samson.

Sources from the jail have said drugs regularly find their way inside,
especially on court days, weekends and holidays.

One inmate from the Burnside jail was taken to hospital in the past
month suffering from an overdose. Sources said he overdosed on ecstasy
but his life wasn't in danger.

Former Crown attorney Anne Calder is awaiting trial dates on charges
of trying to pass drugs to a client at the Central Nova Scotia
Correctional Facility on July 14.

She faces several charges, including trafficking in prescription
painkillers, possession of the painkillers for the purpose of
trafficking and possession of marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking.

Mr. Samson and Tory MLA Cecil Clarke, a former justice minister, said
Friday's arrest is an unfortunate blemish on the dedicated workers in
Sheriff Services.

Mr. Clarke said he expects swift, strong action.

"An example needs to be made and a message needs to be sent," Mr.
Clarke said.

The province can't tolerate its employees taking drugs into jails,
whether or not they've been coerced.

No one from the union representing Sheriff Services workers was
available for comment Friday.

Meanwhile, it's not clear whether the cases against Walter Allan
Gerrior and Kerry-Anne Zwicker, co-accused with Mr. Melvin, will be
able to proceed Nov. 18 because they don't have lawyers yet. Mr.
Gerrior, like Mr. Melvin, has been in custody since they were arrested
in September, and will be back in Dartmouth court Tuesday for a bail
hearing.

- - With Dan Arsenault and Davene Jeffrey, staff reporters and The
Canadian Press