A judge has ordered a Halifax Regional Police officer charged with extortion over the weekend to stay away from two convicted drug dealers.
Const. Jeffrey Buchanan has been released to his Dartmouth home on $15,000 bail. Court documents show he is ordered to have no contact with Shawn Kenneth Banfield and Donya Delaney or go near their homes.
The documents allege Buchanan threatened Banfield into paying him $5,100, which is a breach of trust in his role as a police officer.
Banfield and Delaney both have past convictions for drug trafficking. Banfield was in court yesterday to be sentenced on Oct. 25 charges of resisting and obstructing a police officer. He received a total fine of $172.50.
He also has a charge of assault stemming from the same day, to which he has pleaded not guilty. That matter is scheduled to go to court in January. Banfield must also appear in February to face more drug charges.
Buchanan was arrested while on duty at headquarters early Saturday morning. According to Deputy Chief Chris McNeil, the extortion occurred when Buchanan was on duty last Thursday afternoon. He is alleged to have extorted an undisclosed amount of money from someone.
Buchanan has been suspended from his duties but is eligible to receive pay for at least 60 days.
