RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina police officer stands accused by federal prosecutors of selling cocaine from his department-issued vehicle while he was in uniform, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed Thursday.
Raleigh police officer Keven Rodriguez, 33, was taken into custody by DEA agents on Wednesday after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley stated during a Thursday news conference.
Rodriguez is charged with distribution of a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm in connection with that offense, Easley confirmed, citing a criminal complaint.
“When one who wears the badge breaks the law, it breaches the public trust,” Easley said. “This alleged crime is a serious breach of public trust.”
The arrest came after confidential sources told Raleigh police in late 2021 that Rodriguez was distributing drugs in the city, according to Easley, The News & Observer reported.
Specifically, Easley stated that Rodriguez is accused of driving his patrol car to a meeting with a confidential informant on Jan. 24 and selling them cocaine for $2,600 in cash while in uniform and while carrying his department-issued firearm, the newspaper reported.
The drugs were later tested by a lab and confirmed to be approximately 56 grams of cocaine, the DEA confirmed in a news release.
Meanwhile, Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson confirmed to The News & Observer that Rodriguez is on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of internal and federal investigations.
According to the newspaper, Rodriguez has been with the department for more than three years and served as a field operations division officer at the time of his arrest.
“The arrest of Mr. Rodriguez is a disappointment to me, the Raleigh Police Department, and the citizens and residents of our community,” Patterson told The News & Observer, adding, “Although disheartening, I want to ensure transparency to maintain public trust.”
According to the DEA, Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison if convicted.
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