Ferriday — A Concordia Parish correctional officer was arrested Thursday and charged with introduction of contraband into a penal institute and malfeasance in office after allegedly smuggling cell phones and synthetic marijuana into the prison.

David Earl Bell Jr., 23, 270 Green Acres Road in Ferriday, worked as a correctional officer at Concordia Parish Correctional Facility on Louisiana 15.

Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Greg Jackson said officials at the prison had been watching Bell for several weeks after noticing some strange activity on surveillance footage.

Jackson said Bell admitted to smuggling in contraband to the prison after being confronted by prison officials earlier this week.

“We have him on camera bringing in cell phones and a lot of synthetic marijuana,” Jackson said. “He’s done it several times, so we’re talking ounces of synthetic marijuana.”

Jackson said the matter is still under investigation and that more arrests are likely next week.

Sheriff Kenneth Hedrick said any complaint received by the office, especially those of employees, are investigated.

“We put our highest trust into these employees to watch over the inmates,” Hedrick said. “If they do wrong, they will be prosecuted.”

No bond had been set for Bell as of Friday evening.