Smuggling suspect arrested outside jail
Police say man attempted to escape custody after being caught with drugs, tobacco
James Goldie
Northern News Services
Friday, October 9, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
One man is in police custody following what RCMP believe was a failed attempt to smuggle drugs and tobacco into North Slave Correctional Centre.
Matthew James Menzies of Yellowknife was arrested late in the afternoon on Tuesday by the RCMP's G Division federal investigations unit. The 20-year-old is accused of attempting to transport a small amount of marijuana and tobacco into the corrections facility.
"Our federal investigations unit had begun a drug investigation because they uncovered evidence regarding drug trafficking and contraband smuggling (at the jail)," said RCMP spokesperson Const. Elenore Sturko.
"They had reason to conduct an investigation in that area and that's when they located this male."
Sturko confirmed Thursday Menzies was charged with trafficking, obstruction and escape from lawful custody.
Police say Menzies was arrested on the spot and found to be in possession of six grams of a mixture of marijuana and tobacco. Sturko said she could not confirm how Menzies planned to smuggle it into the corrections facility, citing concerns that revealing his intended method might undermine the RCMP's techniques for detecting future smugglers and to make more seizures and arrests.
According to an RCMP news release, after his initial arrest Menzies, still handcuffed, broke from police custody and attempted to flee the scene.
"Police officers immediately pursued the suspect, the RCMP police services dog was deployed, and the suspect was taken into custody," stated the release.
Sturko said his escape only lasted a few minutes.
"We're not talking about them being on the lam for hours or something. It's a very short period of time," she said. "The prisoner was always in view."
Sturko could not confirm where on the correctional centre's property Menzies was initially located and arrested but did describe the area where he fled custody as "quite a rocky area, which makes it dangerous, even for the person running away."
Menzies was treated for minor injuries during the attempted escape and subsequent capture.
Parker Kennedy, director of corrections for the Department of Corrections, told Yellowknifer in an e-mailed statement that contraband is fact of life in correctional facilities throughout Canada.
"Our staff is vigilant 24 hours a day working to stop contraband from entering any of the facilities," stated Kennedy. "We have a strong ongoing partnership with the RCMP and work closely with them using safeguards in place to ensure the safety of inmates, the facility and the security of the public."
Sturko could not confirm whether there was any collaboration between the department and RCMP in the investigation leading to this arrest.
"We are committed to working together with Department of Justice to ensure the safety of employees and inmates," she said.
