Friday, July 11, 2008

Officer Victor Greenhouse Arrested on Drug Charges

A Marksville police officer is one of two people facing charges following a drug investigation, authorities said Wednesday.

Officer Victor Greenhouse, 40, who's been with the Marksville Police Department for about five years, was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and malfeasance in office, Marksville police Chief Newman Greenhouse said.

The chief and the officer are distantly related, the chief said.

Also charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute was Monica Hampton, 29, of 159 Little California Road, Marksville, authorities reported.

The investigation of Victor Greenhouse, of 1474 La. Highway 453, Marksville, and Hampton came after a package coming across the U.S.-Mexico border was flagged for containing drugs, Newman Greenhouse said.

The Marksville Police Department worked in conjunction with State Police and the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office on the investigation and conducted a search warrant on Hampton's home, where Victor Greenhouse often stayed.

There, officers found a little more than seven pounds of marijuana -- with a street value of $10,000 to $20,000 -- and other suspected narcotics-related paraphernalia, the Sheriff's Office said.

Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Doug Anderson said information received from the Houston Police Department and further investigation led officers from the three agencies to Hampton's home.

Victor Greenhouse was immediately placed on administrative leave without pay after the arrest pending the outcome of his charges, Newman Greenhouse said. His role at the department was as patrol officer responding to calls and handling traffic incidents.

Victor Greenhouse and Hampton remained in the Avoyelles Parish Jail on Wednesday night pending a bond hearing, jail officials said.

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