Saturday, January 09, 2010

Officer Charles Cooper Charged With Taking Money Instead of Making Arrest

Delhi police officer Charles Cooper, 32, was arrested Friday, charged with taking money and sexual favors in lieu of making arrests.

Cooper was booked at the Richland Parish Detention Center on Friday with no bond set.

The arrest followed a three-month investigation by Louisiana State Police and the Richland Parish Sheriff's Office. In a prepared statement, state police said Richland Sheriff Charles McDonald had requested their assistance in the case after receiving complaints and hearing of allegations about the officer.

State police said the investigation was continuing.

Neither Delhi's mayor nor state police immediately returned phone calls about the investigation or the arrest.

Delhi's police department has had a troubled recent history.

Last April, an administrative assistant was arrested in connection with a charge related to prescription drugs.

In 2006, former Delhi Police Chief Gregg McKinney was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to malfeasance in office, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of simple arson. He had been accused of intentionally burning part of the police station to hide what prosecutors said was evidence of his own crimes.

No comments: