A correctional officer at the Westville Correctional Facility was arrested Saturday on charges of bribery and trafficking with an offender, the Indiana Department of Correction (DOC) said.

According to a statement released on Monday, correctional officer Charlie Bolton, 28, was taken into custody following a routine search of his person, after reporting for the start of his shift. Unspecified “hidden contraband” was found in his possession, DOC said.

Bolton was booked into the LaPorte County Jail and placed on emergency suspension with pay, DOC said, while an offender “who may have been involved with the trafficking attempt was placed in segregation at the facility pending further investigation.”

Bolton has been an employee at the Westville Correctional Facility since Sept. 20, 2010, DOC said.

“Trafficking is a significant security issue within any prison or jail, which is why everyone entering the facility is subject to a thorough search, including our own staff,” Superintendent Mark Levenhagen said.

“We are committed to maintaining safe and secure facilities throughout the department,” DOC Commissioner Bruce Lemmon added. “The fact that some staff may succumb to pressure to traffic with offenders is a reality we have to address on a daily basis.”

Posted 2/14/2012