A Peel Regional Police plainclothes officer who investigated drug offenders is himself facing serious drug charges, but the news has been kept quiet.

Only after numerous inquiries, based on a tip, did the Star uncover that the accused is a member of Peel’s street crimes unit who has been with the force for nine years.

The Dufferin branch of the Ontario Provincial Police laid the charges on Friday and issued a short news release without identifying the accused as a Peel police officer.

The news release, issued Saturday, reported that Darrell Beck, 32, of Lisle, Ont., was arrested at 8:48 p.m. Friday on suspicion of impaired driving and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The OPP would not confirm the accused is in fact an officer, saying he wasn’t on duty when he was arrested.

“We normally don’t identify individuals by way of occupation,” said OPP spokesman Peter Leon. “The only time we would identify (an accused) is if it was one of our members that was arrested and charged for transparency reasons.”

When a Star reporter phoned Peel police for a comment, they promised to report back later.

After another inquiry, Peel police confirmed that Beck is a constable with the street crimes unit, which investigates street-level drug and liquor offences.

Peel police spokesman Peter Brandwood said the officer has been suspended with pay under provisions of the Police Services Act.

The Peel Professional Standards Bureau has begun an internal investigation, Brandwood said.

“We will not be commenting on the internal investigation until it is completed,” he said.

“We expect all of our officers to conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner at all times. We take allegations of misconduct seriously and maintaining the public’s trust is paramount.”

Dufferin OPP officers laid the charges after a citizen reported a possible impaired driver on 7th Line of Mulmur Township, which is north of Orangeville and east of Shelburne.

The concerned motorist was travelling behind a silver Volkswagen, and saw the car swerve off the road and end up in a ditch.

The driver left the car and began walking away, the OPP said.

OPP officers found the man nearby and he arrested for impaired driving.

A quantity of drugs was found, according to the OPP.

The OPP said it doesn’t know what the drugs were because they are still being tested. They also wouldn’t comment on the quantity found for “evidentiary reasons.”

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“Possession for the purpose of trafficking is a more serious offence than possession,” Leon said. “It usually indicates there is a greater quantity.”

No one else was in the vehicle, according to the OPP.

The OPP said the investigation is ongoing.