Savannah State University police arrested an off-duty juvenile corrections officer on felony drug charges Friday.
University police notified Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Internal Affairs that 31-year-old Kevin Biggins of Savannah was in a student dorm room on campus when arrested, announced Avery D. Niles, commissioner of the DJJ.
Police said Biggins is enrolled as a student at the university. Before his arrest, Biggins was employed at the Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center.
Police reported Biggins was taken into custody after an officer discovered Biggins allegedly concealed a plastic bag containing two prescription bottles and 13 small bags filled with marijuana in his clothing, according to a DJJ news release.
Biggins then allegedly directed the arresting officer to a handgun in a drawer where the officer also discovered an unmarked prescription bottle containing an illegal stash of oxycodone.
Biggins was charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm on school property. He was booked in the Chatham County jail.
Following the arrest, Niles announced he would order immediate administrative action for Biggins’ suspension from all duties at DJJ.
Niles said there was no immediate evidence to indicate Biggins may have moved contraband into the state detention facility where he worked. The commissioner ordered an immediate internal affairs check into all contraband incidents reported at the Savannah facility for any possible connections involving Biggins.
The investigation by Savannah State police is ongoing.