Officials: Guard tried to smuggle knives into New York jail
NEW YORK -- Officials say a New York City correction officer has been arrested for trying to smuggle knives into Rikers Island.
Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters says Angelo Martinez was arrested Wednesday after he was stopped during a routine screening at one of the jails that make up the Rikers complex.
Peters says a folding knife with a 4-inch blade was discovered in the officer's bag.
He says Martinez was searched and two more knives were found.
The 51-year-old Martinez was suspended without pay. He is charged with promoting prison contraband, reports CBS New York.
Martinez has been with the city Department of Correction since 2007. His base pay is $76,488.
Correction officers' union head Norman Seabrook says he hopes authorities will be as "vigorous" in finding contraband smuggled in by inmates as they are in pursuing cases involving correction officers.