Toronto East correctional officer charged with smuggling drugs into jail
CBC
A correctional officer at the Toronto East Detention Centre has been charged with smuggling potentially lethal drugs into the Scarborough jail, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
The rookie jail guard, Dylan Pinnavaria, has also been suspended with pay as an internal investigation unfolds.
The sources, who CBC Toronto is not identifying as they are not authorized to speak publicly about the case, say Pinnavaria was arrested after the jail's surveillance cameras recorded him carrying a package through the medium security facility and allegedly entering an inmate's cell.
Jail staff immediately seized the package and launched an investigation.
The seizure then prompted staff to search Pinnavaria's vehicle, which was parked at the jail. The sources say the search uncovered cannabis, heroin and ceramic blades. Police were notified and Pinnavaria was arrested shortly after. He's facing weapons, drug trafficking and breach-of-trust charges.
Toronto police say Pinnavaria, 24, was charged on Sept. 7 and is set to appear in court Oct.19, though they would not confirm that he is a correctional officer. A spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing.
While the sources who spoke to CBC News said the arrest appears to be an isolated incident, the situation is raising concerns among those who advocate for incarcerated people suffering from addictions.
Richard Miller, the founder of Keep6ix, a non-profit organization that assists marginalized youth navigating the justice system, said he was informed of the incident by inmates at the jail on Eglinton Avenue East in Scarborough.
"One of the issues we're hearing about is safety when it comes to incarcerated individuals," he said.
Miller added that substance use has been a longstanding problem within Ontario jails. According to the Office of the Chief Coroner, there have been 80 drug toxicity deaths in Ontario corrections facilities from 2012 to 2021.
Miller said he finds this recent incident very concerning.
"It's one of the issues we have to deal with because we have individuals that are suffering from substance abuse," he said.
Miller says organizations like Keep6ix and other community groups try their best to provide support and information to incarcerated individuals living with addiction, but he wants to see more action taken by the province.
"We need to stop and look at the overall picture and how it affects us as taxpayers," he said.
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