Detective Stevie Billups Sentenced For Drug Crimes

Former Columbus Police Detective Stevie Billups, 48, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison for crimes he committed through his involvement with a local drug dealer.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kevin Cornelius, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office (FBI); Karen Huey, Director of Enforcement for the Ohio Casino Control Commission; and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham.

Judge Graham also fined Billups $10,000 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.

Billups pleaded guilty on November 22, 2013, to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute heroin. According to a document the government filed with the court prior to today’s sentencing, in 2013 Billups provided armed protection for two transactions involving drugs while he was a Columbus Police officer.

Billups began his relationship with a drug dealer when Billups began laundering money for the drug dealer by cashing in chips which helped the drug dealer avoid transaction reporting requirements at the Hollywood Casino in Columbus.

According to court documents, Billups asked the drug dealer to “get him in the game.” Billups’ query led to the June 28th and July 17th drug stings by the FBI, whereby Billups protected the drug dealer in the pickup of purported drug money. He later provided protection for the drug dealer during a transaction which Billups believed involved the distribution of heroin. Billups provided protection during the second transaction while he was on duty, armed with his service weapon, and in a Columbus Division of Police unmarked detective vehicle. Billups received a total of $5,000 in exchange for providing protection to the drug dealer during these transactions.

“Public confidence in our police to ‘do the right thing’ is undermined with each case of police corruption,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Squires told the court. “It is a police officer’s duty to uphold the law and protect the public....Billups’ intent to aid and further the problems that heroin has brought to our communities for his own profit indicates the serious nature of this offense.”

“Using a police officer’s badge and gun to commit crime is a particularly disturbing threat to the community,” stated SAC Kevin Cornelius. “This case highlights the fact that local, state, and federal agencies are working together to root out corruption and bring to justice those who betray the public’s trust.”

“Ohio Casino Control Commission and its gaming agents are committed to working with our federal and local law enforcement partners to investigate criminal activity occurring at the casinos,” said Karen Huey. “The Commission will not tolerate money laundering or drug dealing at any of Ohio’s casinos.”

U.S. Attorney Stewart praised the cooperative investigation by the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the FBI’s Central Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes agents from the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).

Mr. Stewart commended the Columbus Division of Police and Police Chief Kim Jacobs for the cooperation they provided during the course of this investigation and thanked the Homeland Security Investigations Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force for helping initiate this investigation. The Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force includes agents with Homeland Security Investigations and detectives with the Columbus Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Stewart also acknowledged Assistant United States Attorneys Doug Squires and David DeVillers, who prosecuted the case.

Officer Jeffrey Morgan Arrested for Possession of Heroin

A veteran Chandler police officer has been arrested for possession of heroin.

Documents show Jeffrey Morgan, a 13-year veteran, was arrested March 4 and resigned from the Chandler police force March 7.

"Our drug policy is very simple, you cannot have any illegal drugs in your system," said Detective Seth Tyler with the Chandler Police Department.

Early in March, Chandler police received information that Morgan was buying and using heroin.  Police searched Morgan's apartment where they say they confiscated evidence including a chunk of suspected heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Tyler said it's normal procedure for them to investigate their own.

"This is not the first time, unfortunately, that we've had to investigate one of our officers for a criminal offense," Tyler said. "This had happened in the past. Unfortunately, it will happen again in the future."

Morgan was a motor officer in the traffic unit.

"They focus on two things; they focus on enforcement on the roadway, and they focus on roadway impairment," Tyler said.

But now his cases could be impacted with this felony arrest. Morgan resigned a few days after the search warrant was served.

"Our function as police in our society begins with the public trust," Tyler said. "If the public trust is compromised in any way, we will take swift action."

Morgan was processed and booked into jail. He is free pending formal charges being filed by the county attorney.

Officer Richard Irizzary Arrested by DEA

A  Titusville Police Officer on administrative leave since January was taken into custody Thursday by DEA agents and the Titusville Police Internal Affairs Investigator according to Titusville Police in a statement.

Richard Irizzary, a patrol officer since March 2010, was taken into custody as he arrived at police headquarters Thursday morning for a scheduled interview.

Titusville Police said Irizzary was arrested after he was indicted on federal charges on Wednesday.

Police said Irizzary’s badge and gun were seized back in January when he was placed on administrative leave.

The Federal charges summarized include: To Aid & Abet the Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substance while armed with a Firearm; and Use of a Communication Device to Aid the Possession of Controlled Substances.

Titusville Police Chief John Lau and other members of his command staff have been working directly with the DEA since January when the department first learned of the allegations.

“We were appalled and shocked when we learned of these allegations and immediately offered our complete cooperation”, said Titusville Police Chief John Lau.

“We have been working in tandem with DEA investigators on this isolated incident that does not involve any other department member” said Lau.

“The law enforcement profession has absolutely no room for employees with no integrity and the second a police officer breaks their oath and commits a crime, they are no longer a police officer”

The department will be able to comment on the specifics of the internal investigation when it has concluded, which could take several weeks. Irizzary was taken directly to the federal courthouse in Orlando by DEA agents after his arrest. The federal charges in the indictment carry a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 10 years.

Titusville Police said they will move to suspend him without pay after a due process hearing. The agency said they cannot move to terminate Irizzary until the completion of an Internal Investigation.

Deputy Sheriff Charles Fuller Charged with Possession of Cocaine

The U.S. Attorney's Office says a Saratoga County Deputy Sheriff has been arrested on drug charges.

Charles Fuller, 46, from Corinth was charged on Friday with attempting to aid and abet the possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. If convicted, Fuller faces a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $5,000,000 fine.

According to the complaint, the FBI, along with a confidential source arranged to buy a kilo of cocaine from Fuller while he was off duty.

"The allegations against Fuller are an affront to and undermine the integrity of the hardworking men and women of the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. We will not tolerate corruption among our ranks. Our promise to the people of Saratoga County is that we will continue to work diligently to ensure that every member of this office deserves the respect and trust of our community," says Saratoga County Sheriff Michal Zurlo.

Officer Shawn Allen Charged with Fraud

A Region 8 police officer was charged with both fraud and possession after he was arrested Friday morning.

According to police, Walnut Ridge police officer Shawn Allen was charged with fraud after abusing drug prescriptions. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Allen was released on bond and has a scheduled court date.

Corrections Officer Jessie Tyree Arrested on Drug Charges

A federal corrections officer and a woman were arrested at an apartment complex by Ocala police and drug agents Friday and were charged with possession of illegal narcotics.

Ocala Police Department officers Brandon Sirolli and J.P. Hall were patrolling at Spring Manor Apartments at 2833 NE Seventh St., Ocala, when they smelled burnt marijuana coming from an open window.

The officers saw Jessie Tyree and a woman walking from a hallway and smelled a strong odor of marijuana on them. The two said they had just left the apartment from which the officers had smelled burnt marijuana, reports state.

The woman told the officers she had smoked marijuana in the apartment. Other officers arrived and Tyree and the woman were searched. The woman did not have anything illegal in her possession but Tyree had MDMA, commonly called Ecstasy, cocaine and drug paraphernalia, according to the report.

Tyree, 28, is a corrections officer at Marion Correctional Institution. He told the officers he has been using drugs for “just a little while,” the report notes.

Charlotte James, the tenant in the apartment, came outside and asked officers what was going on. She said she had smoked marijuana before Tyree and the woman arrived, but that there was not any more inside. The officers asked to search the residence and she told them no, the report states.

The officers contacted the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, which obtained a search warrant. Inside James’ apartment agents found a small amount of marijuana.
James, 26, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.

Tyree was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, MDMA and drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Darrell Mathis Arrested for Selling Marijuana Out of His Police Car

An undercover sting operation nabbed an Atlanta-area sheriff's deputy who was selling marijuana out of his patrol car and in uniform, federal authorities say.

Newton County Deputy Darrell Mathis told an informant that he could sell pot without fear because "he drives safely and flashes police credentials to get out of tickets if stopped," according to court papers. Mathis, a five-year veteran deputy, was freed on bond after his arrest last week, the FBI said.

"This defendant used his position as a police officer to openly violate the very laws that he was sworn to uphold," U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in a written statement.

"Selling marijuana out of his police car while wearing a badge and uniform is outrageous. This case is a reminder that no one is above the law."

Mathis has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and with carrying a firearm during a drug offense -- a charge that could bring a possible life sentence if convicted. He did not immediately return messages seeking comment Sunday.

Newton County is about 30 miles east of Atlanta. Sheriff Ezell Brown said Mathis has been placed on administrative leave, and his office is cooperating with the investigation.

"This is an embarrassment to the Newton County Sheriff's Office, as well as law enforcement in general," Brown said in a joint statement with Yates.

According to the charges against him, Mathis attracted the attention of the FBI in April after what officials called a "social visit" by a person who went on to become a confidential informant. The informant visited Mathis at his apartment and saw large bags of what was "believed to be marijuana" on the living room table.

The complaint states that Mathis told the informant that he wasn't concerned about getting caught, because of his safe driving and police credentials.

Apparently unnerved by the exchange, the informant went to the authorities and offered to help with an investigation. The FBI then set up a half dozen meetings among Mathis, the informant and eventually two undercover agents, court papers recount.

Mathis and the informant discussed a drug sale during their next meeting, the charges state. Mathis sold the informant an ounce of marijuana later that day, showing up for the deal in his cruiser, in uniform and carrying his service pistol.

After that, an undercover agent got involved -- and the amounts of marijuana increased.
In June, as the agent bought a pound of pot, Mathis boasted, "I do my little 10 to 15 a week" -- a phrase the agent "understood to mean selling 10 to 15 pounds a week," the arrest affidavit states.

Then in early August, according to the complaint, Mathis met with another undercover agent, a supposed cocaine dealer. The two agents and Mathis sat down at a restaurant to discuss buying and transporting marijuana and cocaine, according to the complaint.

While the three spoke, Mathis allegedly pulled out his badge and told the undercover agent, "Don't worry, I'm on your side." By the end of the meeting, the complaint alleges, Mathis had agreed to run marijuana and cocaine from Alabama to North Carolina at the behest of the undercover agent.

Federal agents found a pound of pot on Mathis when he was arrested last week, the FBI said.

Sheriff Deputy Andrew Field Arrested

A Bibb County Sheriff's Deputy assigned to the Detention Division was arrested Tuesday. According to a press release from the Sheriff's Office, an internal investigation led to the arrest of 26 year old Andrew Glenn Field. It says investigators arrested field for possession of drugs, crossing the guard line with drugs, and violating the oath of public office. Field is currently being held in the Bibb County Law Enforcement Complex with a bond of $17,100. Field has been placed on suspension with pay while the case is being investigated.

Officer Robert Bakert Arrested for Using Meth

A Carrollton, Mo., police officer has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Marshall police said they received a tip that Robert W. Bakert, 34, of Marshall, had been suspected of using methamphetamine while working for the Carollton Police Department.

"(It was) inconceivable at first," said Carrollton Police Chief Donny King, on how he reacted to news of Bakert's arrest. "You have a hard time imagining anybody that picks this for a career getting involved in that, and then there's the shock."

According to court documents, an officer pulled Bakert over for a traffic violation early Tuesday and searched his vehicle. The officer said Bakert was wearing his police uniform and had his service firearm on a belt in the passenger's side floorboard.

The documents said a K-9 officer was brought to sniff Bakert's vehicle and led officers to a glass smoking pipe that was under a floor mat. Police also said they found a plastic bag with white residue, two near-empty containers of "Pump-It" stimulant in the car.

In the trunk, police said they found an evidence bag containing three spoons covered in a white powdery residue. The evidence bag had been cut open.

Investigators later said the stimulant containers tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine and the spoons tested positive for cocaine.

According to court documents, Bakert said he had not used methamphetamine since December 2010, but said he would not provide a urine sample for drug testing. He initially said the spoons had been intended for use in a display at the Carrollton Police Department, but later said he had planned to dispose of them, but they must have fallen out of a bag and into his trunk.

If convicted, the charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison or up to $5,000 in fines.Bakert graduated from the police academy six months ago and has been working for Carrollton ever since. A hearing is scheduled next Monday to determine whether Bakert should be fired.

"He was a friendly guy and did good work," King said. "(There was) no indication anything like this was going on."

Former Officer Timothy Radogna Sentenced for Grand Theft

A former Glendora police officer pleaded no contest today to grand theft and possessing methamphetamine.

Timothy Radogna, 34, was sentenced to 180 days in county jail and three years of probation and ordered to complete a 24-month drug rehabilitation program, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

He could have received a maximum term of nine years and eight months in state prison.

Radogna was arrested in May after he was accused of stealing hundreds of dollars from the Glendora Police Department and possessing drugs.

Radgona was also ordered to repay $500 to the department, authorities said.

Former Deputy Donna Sheain Charged with Sale of Meth

A former, long-time deputy at the Coweta County Sheriff's Office was arrested Dec. 31, 2009, and charged with selling methamphetamine.

Donna Rachelle Sheain, 37, is charged with two counts sale of meth, possession of meth, conspiracy to sell meth and possession of marijuana.

Sheain was a supervisor for the sheriff's office, where she was employed for over a decade. She was a certified CPR instructor, a general instructor and a field training officer.

She left her job, at the rank of corporal, in 2004 for a year-long tour as a defense contractor in Iraq, according to The Times-Herald news files.

She volunteered to be part of the effort to train the Iraqi police force.

Former Officer Kyle Zumbrunn Going to Prison

A former Weston, Mo., police officer will go to prison for selling drugs in Atchison.

With his attorney, J. David Farris, beside him, Kyle Zumbrunn appeared in court Monday for sentencing before District Judge Martin Asher. Mr. Farris had two rows of witnesses sitting in the courtroom ready to testify on behalf of his client.

On Sept. 22, Mr. Zumbrunn sold 80 pills containing a controlled substance to a Kansas Bureau of Investigation undercover agent at the Wal-Mart parking lot in Atchison. Mr. Zumbrunn pleaded guilty.

Sgt. Kerry Stone, a detective with the Atchison Police Department, testified that Mr. Zumbrunn, 26, is serving his punishment every day and said he believed that probation was appropriate.

Mr. Farris told the judge that others would testify to the same thing.

The KBI agent involved in the case told Gerald Kuckelman, Atchison County attorney, that the drug deal was a fluke and Mr. Zumbrunn didn’t even know the drugs’ street value.

Mr. Kuckelman said Mr. Zumbrunn was no risk to the community and agreed with the defense’s probation recommendation.

The defendant spoke briefly before sentencing, saying he didn’t really know why he tried to sell the pills but took responsibility for his actions.

Mr. Asher had other thoughts. The judge told the packed courtroom that this was the most difficult sentencing decision he’d had to make. The defendant lost his job, his career and put shame on himself, Mr. Asher said.

“And your actions show a complete disregard for community safety,” he said.

The crime wasn’t an impulse, but something you thought about, Mr. Asher said.

“The court struggles with the fact that you were a law enforcement officer and can’t overlook that,” he said. “The appearance of justice has to apply equally ... It can’t be a two-tiered system.”

Mr. Zumbrunn will serve 15 months in state prison on the charge of distribution of a controlled substance and eight months concurrently on a second charge of illegal use of a telephone.

The pronouncement of sentence ended quiet in the courtroom as women started weeping. Atchison County Sheriff John Calhoon took custody of Mr. Zumbrunn and removed him.

Mr. Zumbrunn’s arrest led to Greg Hoffman, Weston’s mayor, asking the Platte County Sheriff’s Department to investigate police procedures for handling evidence. Three detectives are handling that investigation and the Weston Police Department’s evidence locker was seized. No date has been announced for completion of the investigation.

Officer Jonathan Pratt Arrested for Drug Possession

A reserve Athens police officer arrested over the weekend for drug possession is no longer with the force. The Athens Police Department removed Jonathan Pratt on Sunday. A Limestone County sheriff's deputy arrested Pratt on Saturday after a traffic stop.

The deputy stopped a car Pratt was riding in, and arrested him and the driver for possession of a controlled substance.

Athens reserve officers volunteer with the police department. They are not sworn officers. They work special events, wear a reserve officer badge, carry a gun, and sometimes drive a car. Most of the time, they ride with a police officer.

Athens Police Chief Wayne Harper says it's a shame what has happened.

Limestone County stopped the car Jonathan Pratt was a passenger in Saturday night. The deputy stopped the driver for speeding. Reports say the deputy then found prescription pills in the car.

"It's not a good thing, and it's embarrassing," said Harper. "Mr. Pratt's been with us for about a year. We did an in-depth background on him when we put him on our reserve unit and he checked out well."

Harper says Pratt had seemed like a good fit for the department.

"It's a bad situation," Harper said. "I wish it hadn't of happened."

Chief Harper says they had to take care of the situation.

"As soon as we found out we found out yesterday [Sunday], he was immediately relieved," said Harper. "He's no longer with the reserve program."

Harper says this shouldn't give the reserve program a black eye.

"They're a valuable asset. This in no way is representative of our reserve unit or our police department and i just wish it hadn't of happened," said Harper.

Athens Mayor Dan Williams says the city may evaluate drug testing the reserve officers.

"We do background checks on the people that come to work for us," said Williams. "The reserve officers are restricted in what they can do and they have to be with people who are certified policemen."

The report from the Limestone County Sheriff's Department says Pratt said he has a prescription for the pills found on him. There were other pills found in the car that were unaccounted for.

Chief Harper says Pratt came by the office Monday morning and apologized for embarrassing the police department.

Deputy Tyrone David Arrested for Smuggling Drugs

A man sworn to protect the public and safely escort prisoners has been arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the provincial jail system.

Tyrone David was picked up Friday morning after he allegedly met up with a woman at a strip mall parking lot in the 300 block of Pleasant Street in Dartmouth. The meeting and alleged transaction took place just before 9 a.m., police said.

Both the 40-year-old deputy sheriff, who was in uniform at the time, and the woman left in separate cars. She was later arrested after she was pulled over by police on Chadwick Street.

The deputy sheriff was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Dartmouth provincial courthouse, not far away.

On Friday evening, police sent out a news release saying they had charged Mr. David, 40, with 12 counts of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Kathleen Kierans, 22, has been charged with 12 counts of trafficking.

Justice Minister Ross Landry said Friday that the sheriff, who’s been on the job about five years, is on paid administrative leave.

Police wouldn’t reveal what kind of drugs were allegedly exchanged during the meeting, but sources told this newspaper that a quantity of cocaine and cash were involved, and were passed from the woman to the deputy sheriff.

Sources said the woman is the girlfriend of well-known crime figure Jimmy Melvin Jr. but police would not confirm that report.

Mr. Melvin didn’t appear in court Friday morning but his lawyer, Josh Arnold, made an appearance on his behalf.

Mr. Melvin’s case was on the docket Friday so a date could be set for his preliminary hearing on charges of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, violating a weapons prohibition order, being in a vehicle that contained a prohibited weapon and possessing ecstasy and an anti-anxiety drug. He also faces charges of breaching bail conditions from a previous release.

It’s not believed Mr. Melvin, who’ll be back in court on Nov. 18 for the preliminary hearing along with two co-accused, will face any charges in connection with Friday’s arrests, the sources said.

Mr. Arnold said Friday that he couldn’t comment on any connection between the 22-year-old woman who was arrested and his client. He said he hadn’t heard anything about the deputy sheriff’s or the woman’s arrest.

Halifax Regional Police spokeswoman Theresa Rath said officers didn’t randomly stumble across the drug deal.

"This investigation occurred over a series of days. We were acting on information that we had received," she said Friday.

Ms. Rath wouldn’t reveal what makes police think the drugs were going to the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth.

"We can’t get into why we think that, but suffice it to say that based on the evidence that was seized, we believe that the drugs were destined for transportation into the corrections system. Our investigation will continue (looking) as to where (the drugs) may have been destined and to whom."

She said police haven’t received information to suggest that any other deputy sheriffs were involved.

Mr. Landry called the situation very disappointing.

"It’s always a concern when one of your employees is alleged to be involved in illicit activities," he told reporters at Province House. ""It raises a concern."

He said the positive in the situation is that drugs were kept out of the Burnside jail.

"That’s our goal and if any of our employees are involved in drug usage, we have a zero tolerance policy and we adhere to that strongly."

Aside from the police force’s investigation, Justice Department officials are also conducting their own probe.

Mr. Landry said officials believe it is an isolated incident. But Liberal justice critic Michel Samson said there have been lots of stories about drug use in prison, so he thinks the Justice Department investigation should be fairly broad.

"It might be time for the minister to take a look and determine exactly how is it that illegal drugs continue to get inside of our correctional facilities in light of the protocols that one would think are in place to prevent that from happening," said Mr. Samson.

Sources from the jail have said drugs regularly find their way inside, especially on court days, weekends and holidays.

One inmate from the Burnside jail was taken to hospital in the past month suffering from an overdose. Sources said he overdosed on ecstasy but his life wasn’t in danger.

Former Crown attorney Anne Calder is awaiting trial dates on charges of trying to pass drugs to a client at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility on July 14.

She faces several charges, including trafficking in prescription painkillers, possession of the painkillers for the purpose of trafficking and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Mr. Samson and Tory MLA Cecil Clarke, a former justice minister, said Friday’s arrest is an unfortunate blemish on the dedicated workers in Sheriff Services.

Mr. Clarke said he expects swift, strong action.

"An example needs to be made and a message needs to be sent," Mr. Clarke said.

The province can’t tolerate its employees taking drugs into jails, whether or not they’ve been coerced.

No one from the union representing Sheriff Services workers was available for comment Friday.

Meanwhile, it’s not clear whether the cases against Walter Allan Gerrior and Kerry-Anne Zwicker, co-accused with Mr. Melvin, will be able to proceed Nov. 18 because they don’t have lawyers yet. Mr. Gerrior, like Mr. Melvin, has been in custody since they were arrested in September, and will be back in Dartmouth court Tuesday for a bail hearing.
---------------------------
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/10/09/ns-deputy-sheriff.html

Officer Francis Brevetti Arrested on Drug Charges

On Sunday, September 20, Watertown police executed an arrest warrant for Francis Brevetti, 29, of 11 Rustic Acres Drive, Wolcott on drug possession charges. Mr. Brevetti is a member of the Waterbury Police Department.

Mr. Brevetti was allegedly discovered to be in possession of marijuana and less than three grams of cocaine when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Watertown in the early morning on Sunday, September 20.

Mr. Brevetti has been charged with possession of narcotics, possession with intent to sell cocaine, possession with intent to sell cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell marijuana, possession with intent to sell marijuana within 1,500 of a school and possession of paraphernalia. He was released on $100,000 bond.

Watertown Police spokesman Lt. Mark Raimo reported that Mr. Brevetti "was not arrested at the accident scene," as Mr. Brevetti was taken to a hospital.

"We completed an investigation and arrested Mr. Brevetti on warrant," said Lt. Raimo.

Lt. Raimo declined any comment regarding what the investigation had revealed, but Mr. Brevetti's lawyer has stated that he seized the drugs while on duty, but forgot to turn them over at the police station.

According to police, the drugs were found in Mr. Brevetti's Ford F-150 after he was involved in a head-on accident with a tree at about 2 a.m. Mr. Brevetti was taken from the scene by ambulance for treatment of injuries to his face and head, after he had exited the vehicle and was found stumbling in the roadway, police said.

However, as officers were having the vehicle towed, they discovered a large amount of drugs in the rear of the vehicle.

Officers seized several small plastic baggies stuffed with marijuana, a small baggie containing a small quantity of cocaine, and a digital scale used for weighing small items.

The arrest warrant stated that there were more than 51 grams of marijuana in the baggies. Police seized the drugs and launched a criminal investigation. In a press release issued by the Watertown Police Department, Police Chief John Gavallas stated, "the arrest of a police officer on charges such as these saddens the entire law enforcement community."

Mr. Brevetti was due to appear in court on September 29.

Officer Robert Colombo Charged with Stealing Drugs from Evidence Room

A former Lyndhurst police office was indicted Thursday on charges of drug possession, tampering with evidence, and theft in office.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office said Robert Colombo, 40, stole drugs from an evidence room and replaced them with rock salt.

The evidence was confiscated from a vehicle involved in a crash on May, 19. Lyndhurst officers responded to the scene, found heroin and arrested two people.

They officers returned to the station to book the suspects. At the station, Colombo took the evidence to log it into the evidence room but instead replaced the evidence, investigators said.

Colombo was found the following day at his Summit County home with heroin. BCI conducted the investigation.

Officer George Langan Arrested for Corruption

Washington County District Attorney Steven Toprani said that a Monongahela police officer arrested yesterday on drug and corruption charges represents a culture of corruption he has been wrestling with since he took office 20 months ago.

Monongahela patrolman George M. Langan thwarted the efforts of a Washington County drug task force by tipping off drug dealers and also operated as a drug dealer, Mr. Topriani said. He also threatened some people who authorities say purchased drugs from him.

He described the patrolman as "rogue" officer who was "an important figure in Monongahela's cocaine trade."

Mr. Langan's arrest brings to five the number of local police officers charged with corruption and related crimes under Mr. Toprani's brief regime.

"I view the allegations and arrest with a profound sense of sadness," said Mr. Toprani, who lives in neighboring Carroll. "My commitment to stamp out corruption remains firm."

Mr. Toprani's comments came during a news conference in front of the county courthouse yesterday, just hours after Officer Langan, 45, was arrested and lodged in the county jail on $500,000 bond.

Officer Langan, a 16-year veteran of the Monongahela police, was called into the police department about two hours into his shift yesterday morning and told to remove his gun and belt for a random drug test.

He was taken into custody and charged with 11 counts of violating the drug act, and 23 counts of public corruption, including official oppression, evidence tampering and criminal conspiracy.

His arrest stemmed from an indictment handed down Thursday from a new countywide grand jury empaneled earlier this year by Mr. Toprani.

The indictment capped a four-month investigation into corruption and drug dealing in the Mon Valley, and there could be more arrests, Mr. Toprani said.

He said Officer Langan was targeted by the grand jury after members of the drug task force became suspicious of possible police corruption in the Monongahela area.

The task force, made up of several dozen police officers from throughout the county, acts in secret to investigate and eliminate the local drug trade.

Detective Ronald J. Levi of the drug task force said doubts were raised recently when his team coordinated several undercover purchases of the narcotic painkiller oxycontin from a group of drug dealers in the Mon Valley.

Local police were notified shortly before a final buy and coordinating raid were planned, Detective Levi said, but it became obvious that the dealers had been tipped off and the plan went awry.

"We suspected something was up," he said.

The group didn't have far to look, as Mr. Langan -- called "G-Money" by friends -- had been under investigation for at least the last 10 years by the state attorney general's office, the state police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Toprani said.

The details of those investigations are unclear for now, but Monongahela police Chief Brian Tempest said during his 20-odd years as a local patrolman, he suspected Mr. Langan of wrongdoing and forwarded his concerns to then-chief Dennis Mendicino.

"I feel this has been going on for 10 years," said Chief Tempest, who was appointed chief in January 2008, when new Mayor Robert Kepics was elected. Ex-chief Mendicino, who still works on the force of 18 officers, was demoted to sergeant.

Chief Tempest said there were rumors for years that members of the police force were corrupt, and said he's glad to finally be able to address them.

"It's a sad day for law enforcement," he said. "I feel sad. He was my friend."

Although details will remain sketchy until the grand jury indictment is unsealed during a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday, the criminal complaint filed yesterday alleges Mr. Langan was in possession of cocaine on or about June 15 and June 17, when an undercover operation was launched.

During the same time period, he is accused of delivering cocaine to Sgt. Mendicino's ex-wife, Lori Mendicino, and to Mike Tatar, Nick Simon and Wendy Biagini -- who he has since been accused of threatening.

In April, police said Mr. Langan tipped off Mr. Tatar, Millie Schiffer and Kurt Neff to pending arrests and search warrants.

Mr. Langan's actions rose to the level of racketeering, the complaint alleges, and put the lives of other law enforcement officials in "grave danger."

Mr. Toprani said the investigation wouldn't have been possible without the grand jury, "a very effective tool," which hears confidential testimony and has the power to compel cooperation.

He said it's possible that more charges will be forthcoming, and that Mr. Langan wasn't acting alone.

"This is certainly a difficult day for law enforcement, but it's a necessary one," he said.
--------------------------------
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/news/s_641579.html

Officer Michael Sylvester Arrested for Theft & Possession

The court documents just filed in the arrest of a Baltimore police officer accused of stealing money from a drug dealer (who turned out to be an undercover detective) provide a detailed account of the case.

Authorities say the officer was targeted because of complaints and moved from a drug task force working Pennsylvania Avenue to the Northwest Police District. There, he was put in charge of training a rookie cop (done, police tell me, to avoid tipping the officer that he was under suspicion). The rookie is not in any trouble.

Members of the department's Internal affairs Integrity Unit set up the sting for Thursday night in the 3900 block of Carlisle Ave., in an area normally devoid of drug dealers. At 9:45 p.m., an undercover officer parked a green Cadillac at Carlisle and Mt. Holley Street while another officer called 911 and described a suspicious green vehicle driving around the block, supposedly looking to buy drugs.

At 9:48 p.m., a dispatcher sent Officer Michael Sylvester (in picture) to the call and told him a person was sitting in the Cadillac for 15 minutes and "acting strange." At 9:50 p.m., court documents say Sylvester pulled up beside the vehicle and shouted, "What are you doing here?" The undercover officer answered, "I'm waiting for my home boy to come meet me."

The court documents say Sylvester ordered the driver to turn off his ignition, turn over his license, get out of the car and sit on the curb. The man gave Sylvester permission to search the car and he emptied his pockets onto the front seat of the car. The charging papers say Sylvester conducted the search alone. After the search, court documents say Sylvester told the driver he was free to go and drove off.

Police say that the uncover officer had $259 in marked bills in his pants pocket and an additional $135 in marked bills in the arm rest of the Cadillac. After Sylvester and the training officer left, the undercover says in court documents that $50 was missing from the money that was in his pocket and $20 was missing from the money that had been in the car.

Undercover police officers followed Sylvester through the remainder of his shift, which ended at 11 p.m. They stopped Sylvester in the parking lot of the Northwestern District after he had changed into civilian clothes and was about to get into his personal vehicle. A lieutenant escorted the officer to an office while detectives searched his locker and reported, according to the charging documents, finding three blue zip lock bags containing suspected cocaine in the breast pocket of his uniform.

Police say Sylvester, 29, is being charged with theft and drug possession.
-----------------------------
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/Officer-Arrested-for-Theft-and-Drug-Charges/lRUMPY1yvUGSDMKYCHb2Cw.cspx

Tangipahoa Parish sheriff's deputy Kevin Whittington is behind bars after being arrested for possession of crack cocaine.

Whittington, 44, was arrested Monday after he allegedly accepted 24 grams of crack and a cell phone intended for an inmate at the parish jail.

If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.
__________________________
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl070709cbtangideputy.1a5301d4.html

Officer Christopher Bond Arrested for trying to Buy Meth

State Police say Town of Pulaski police officer Christopher Bond was arrested Thursday, while trying to buy meth in Wythe County.

Bond faces three charges:

One count of attempting to possess meth (A Class 5 felony)
One count of attempting to possess loritab (Class one misdemeanor)
One count of knowingly or intentionally possessing marijuana (Class one misdemeanor)
In a news release Pulaski Police Chief G.W. Roche says Bond has been suspended from duty and an internal affairs investigation has been started.

Chief Roche said Bond has been with the department for two years, and was a police officer before joining the department.

Roche added, "I am very disappointed that this incident has occurred but I am grateful to the Virginia State Police and the Wythe Co. Sheriff’s Office for their consideration in notifying me of the investigation and their professionalism in processing this case."
___________________

http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/208314