Skip to main content

Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #458)
Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy

Busy, busy, busy. Judges on cocaine, cops dealing cocaine, cops selling ecstasy, Air Force pilots smuggling ecstasy, police chemists pilfering from the evidence pile, and, of course, jail guards smuggling dope into prisons. Let's get to it:

In Las Cruces, New Mexico, the state Judicial Standards Commission filed a petition last Friday seeking the removal of a Dona Ana County magistrate on the grounds he tested positive for cocaine, according to the Associated Press. Magistrate Carlos Garza, 42, has denied using drugs and vowed to fight the move. Garza has been suspended by the commission since September 20, when he failed to comply with a commission order he submit to a drug test. According to the commission, he has since failed another drug test. The commission also accused Garza of trying to pressure a Mesilla deputy marshal during a traffic stop where the judge was in a car with a woman "with whom he had a personal relationship" and asking a court clerk to clear the woman's license early in a drunk driving case. He was put on probation by the Judicial Standards Commission earlier this year in that case, and he said the charge he used cocaine was a continuation of a commission vendetta against him. He said the cocaine metabolites found in his system could have been received through "passive exposure." Garza is running unopposed for reelection in next month's elections.

[Ed: Whether to include mere drug use/possession by criminal justice personnel among the examples of corruption is a dilemma Drug War Chronicle routinely faces. We've opted so far to include them, because a judge who uses illegal drugs may also be a judge who presides over trials of, and pronounces sentences on, other drug users who have only done the same thing (hypocrisy); and because the judge is violating a law he has sworn to uphold (it being a law with which we disagree notwithstanding). Still, it bears reminder that there is a difference between drug use even by police or judges vs. profiting from the drug trade or other examples of official misconduct.]

In Durham, North Carolina, a Durham County sheriff's deputy has been arrested in a drug raid at a local bar and two more deputies have been fired for working security there. Deputy Michael Owens, the owner of the raided bar, was charged along with four others with trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to traffic cocaine, and he faces the additional charge of maintaining a building for the purposes of distributing cocaine. Deputies Brad King and Keith Dotson, who worked off-duty as security for the club, were suspended that same night, the Durham Herald Sun reported, and fired early this week. Authorities reported seizing 1.4 ounces of cocaine during the raid.

In Biloxi, Mississippi, a former Biloxi police officer pleaded guilty last Friday to selling ecstasy, the Biloxi Sun Herald reported. Darrell Cvitanovich, who resigned from the force after his arrest, faces up to 30 years in prison after he admitted selling four ecstasy tablets to a friend. Cvitanovich, who is the son of a former Biloxi police chief, was arrested in June 2005 after an investigation into allegations he was involved in drug activities. During a search of his home, police found 11 ecstasy tablets and a small amount of methamphetamine. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and transfer of a controlled substance, but pleaded last week to the single sales charge. Cvitanovich is free on $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

In New York City, a US Air National Guard pilot who took an Air Force jet to Germany and carried back 200,000 ecstasy tablets was sentenced last Friday to 17 ½ years in prison. Capt. Franklin Rodriguez, 36, and his coconspirator, Master Sgt. John Fong, 37, had pleaded guilty in federal court after being busted for the April 2005 flight. Fong awaits sentencing. The pair went down after federal law enforcement agents watched Fong load 28 bags into a BMW sedan and found them filled with ecstasy tablets, according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors said Rodriguez had repeatedly flown drugs on military flights, bringing hundreds of thousands of ecstasy tablets to the US. The feds found more than $700,000 cash in his apartment. They have it now.

In Philadelphia, a former civilian chemist for the Philadelphia Police Department was arrested October 11 on charges she stole drugs for her own use, the Associated Press reported. Colleen Brubaker, 30, came under suspicion in April and resigned in May. Authorities now accuse her of grabbing pain-relieving opiates like Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin to feed her own habit. She is charged with drug possession, theft, receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence, obstruction, tampering with public records or information, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Since Brubaker was the chemist responsible for hundreds of drug cases, public defenders are now looking into the possibility that some of them may have to be dismissed.

In Stillwater, Oklahoma, a Payne County sheriff's deputy has been suspended without pay pending an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, the Associated Press reported. Local officials are mum about exactly what Deputy Brooke Buchanan, a 13-year veteran of the department, is accused of doing, but they did confirm that a special prosecutor has been named in the investigation. The investigation could take several more weeks before any charges are filed.

In Lubbock, Texas, a Lubbock County jail guard was arrested Sunday night as she arrived at work carrying marijuana, KLBK-CBS 13 TV in Lubbock reported. Renata Hernandez, 26, is charged with introducing a prohibited substance into a correctional facility. She faces between two and ten years in prison. While sheriff's office spokesmen said they believed she was bringing the weed into the jail to sell it, they have not been able to prove that yet.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Anonymous (not verified)

it is unfortunate that toxic chems can be obtained through the agencies people trust. Including rehab nurses, doctors and archaeologists who dig up 200 year old opium jars.

Fri, 10/20/2006 - 4:15am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Payne County needs an agency to come in and clean house. Known drug dealers are out quickly, while innocent people are being accused of dealing. Something is way wrong and somebody with power and scruples should care. This corruption runs deep; officials do as they please. Stillwater is especially bad.

Thu, 11/01/2007 - 1:05am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

They are crooked as the DAY IS LONG !
Are home was robbed, garrotte left inside kitchen deupty comes out tells me that's what's the device is called. Then he he said what's your full name and your social insurance number? My husband came home put up security camera's and the Sheriff dept stole them out of are shed. Oh they said it was a drunk who did it. Oh really, where is the drunk now? Did you arrest him or her? No we let him go. If anything ends up missing let them know. Well yes the security tapes of intruders in my yard year 2006 ! Oh well till this day they don't know about that so they say. and furthermore they won't admit to my being kidnapped and them setting it up in Missouri when they demanded I left the state to meet my husband in Des Moins, Iowa. Its a bazzare experience and striclty for adults if you are interested to see the photos of inturders that are still at large with corupt cops in Oklahoma and Missouri who kidnapped me....write to P.O. Box 102 Dinosaur, Colorado

Sat, 05/24/2008 - 5:47am Permalink
noonespecial (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

what happens to the people who have been convicted by the courts by a sheriff that gave false information to get arrest warrants and testifies with lies to convict. then he himself is investigated for the same crime that he had many convicted for? shouldn't those cases be further examined and exonerated by the courts? i think YES.

Fri, 11/02/2012 - 11:39am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

The Corrupt Cops section of this website does a huge service to the public by detialing the hypocrisy and poorly crafted methods of prohibition. This valuable news digest lets us know the devil and the details behind the real forces of drug interdiction.
Keep up the good work!

Fri, 10/20/2006 - 8:48pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Justice4Jack
Member

Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 206
The Power Of Blogging! Durham Is YOUR town too!
I ask you all to also request an Investigation into the DPD, and Sheriff's Department, and why nothing is being done about the unsolved murders?! Not only my brother but also a recent triple homicide, Janet Araboa, Michelle Young, and who knows how many others!

Our cases have been kicked to the curb, and 2 years have come and gone without not even being important, but disgustingly neglected! Nifong is hard from being the sole villain, his league is quite enormous and encompasses many others in positions of authority who have also abused their offices!

There needs to be INVESTIGATIONS, and REFORM! Anything less will accomplish nothing! Nifong is by far the first politician to succumb to abject corruption! Every day is another story of another crooked members of government caught in everything from murder to fraud in office!
The entire scope of the matter is that Durham has become like Carson City in the "Old West!" Lawlessness is the rule rather than the exception!

The Governor needs to be told that "WE" as in "THE PEOPLE" DEMAND accountability, and "WE" will expect NOTHING less than a thorough review by FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS!

Set a PRESIDENT! Durham is not just in North Carolina, but is in each of our United States! Let "OUR" government KNOW that "WE" will not continue to condone anarchy within our own homeland, brought upon us by "ROGUE" officials!
The very word ROGUE does not begin to even touch the surface of what really lies beneath! ROGUE is a compliment compared to what they really are! And that is depraved individuals who care only for their own gain and agendas, are veritably let go with a slap to the hand, and defile the oaths they swore upon to uphold!
All they have UPHELD is their own self interest and those of their cronies, meanwhile OUR rights are abused, neglected, disrespected, ignored, and denied!"

"WE" the people have been vehemently denied our voices and rights to be heard! NO family should be forced into bankruptcy in order for us to have "RIGHTS" to be heard to the courts! This nation was NOT made so that legal affairs would be forever drug on by lawyers in it for their own gain! I am disgusted our country has become so defiled!
MANY of our loved ones have, and are serving in the military so that "WE" may have our freedom and our rights!

"WE" must STAND TOGETHER, massively call, and bother to send by certified mail thousands of letters telling them we will accept NOTHING less! "THEY" work for us! A third of our wages goes into the support of our country! "WE" elect these people! To look the other way is not just giving in, it is cowardice, IMO.

What more fitting detriment to our millions of war dead to know that the flag they bled, and died for is nothing more than a piece of cloth woven in a communist country by enslaved women and children, only because we care about the cheapest cost regardless of it's price, and leave out "One Nation, (UNDER GOD)?!?!

I am sure they are shaking their heads and saying, THESE are OUR descendants?! Just remember our "ROOTS AND OUR RIGHTS" and there is very much power within UNITY!

If ever there was a reason in time for "US" to gather in order to speak our pleas, it was YESTERDAY! It is simple, just mail the Governor, your state representative, and local councilman! Get the ball rolling! Faxes and certified mail is the best route to go, unregistered seems to have quite a knack for becoming "lost?" Also CALL! If I had not called and kept calling I would NEVER have even hope of ANYTHING EVER being done to convict my brothers murderer!

We all think, "What does MY opinion matter?" Just remember this, THOUSANDS of us joined as a TEAM is the only way there will EVER be CHANGE, and HOPE!

Fri, 06/29/2007 - 3:26am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

The deputies, and the sherrif should be prosecuted to the fullest extint of the law, to allow this behavior is abominable,and the citizens of Durham should send the entire lot to prison for life!

Tue, 12/12/2006 - 10:58pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Justice4Jack
Member

Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 206
The Power Of Blogging! Durham Is YOUR town too!
I ask you all to also request an Investigation into the DPD, and Sheriff's Department, and why nothing is being done about the unsolved murders?! Not only my brother but also a recent triple homicide, Janet Araboa, Michelle Young, and who knows how many others!

Our cases have been kicked to the curb, and 2 years have come and gone without not even being important, but disgustingly neglected! Nifong is hard from being the sole villain, his league is quite enormous and encompasses many others in positions of authority who have also abused their offices!

There needs to be INVESTIGATIONS, and REFORM! Anything less will accomplish nothing! Nifong is by far the first politician to succumb to abject corruption! Every day is another story of another crooked members of government caught in everything from murder to fraud in office!
The entire scope of the matter is that Durham has become like Carson City in the "Old West!" Lawlessness is the rule rather than the exception!

The Governor needs to be told that "WE" as in "THE PEOPLE" DEMAND accountability, and "WE" will expect NOTHING less than a thorough review by FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS!

Set a PRESIDENT! Durham is not just in North Carolina, but is in each of our United States! Let "OUR" government KNOW that "WE" will not continue to condone anarchy within our own homeland, brought upon us by "ROGUE" officials!
The very word ROGUE does not begin to even touch the surface of what really lies beneath! ROGUE is a compliment compared to what they really are! And that is depraved individuals who care only for their own gain and agendas, are veritably let go with a slap to the hand, and defile the oaths they swore upon to uphold!
All they have UPHELD is their own self interest and those of their cronies, meanwhile OUR rights are abused, neglected, disrespected, ignored, and denied!"

"WE" the people have been vehemently denied our voices and rights to be heard! NO family should be forced into bankruptcy in order for us to have "RIGHTS" to be heard to the courts! This nation was NOT made so that legal affairs would be forever drug on by lawyers in it for their own gain! I am disgusted our country has become so defiled!
MANY of our loved ones have, and are serving in the military so that "WE" may have our freedom and our rights!

"WE" must STAND TOGETHER, massively call, and bother to send by certified mail thousands of letters telling them we will accept NOTHING less! "THEY" work for us! A third of our wages goes into the support of our country! "WE" elect these people! To look the other way is not just giving in, it is cowardice, IMO.

What more fitting detriment to our millions of war dead to know that the flag they bled, and died for is nothing more than a piece of cloth woven in a communist country by enslaved women and children, only because we care about the cheapest cost regardless of it's price, and leave out "One Nation, (UNDER GOD)?!?!

I am sure they are shaking their heads and saying, THESE are OUR descendants?! Just remember our "ROOTS AND OUR RIGHTS" and there is very much power within UNITY!

If ever there was a reason in time for "US" to gather in order to speak our pleas, it was YESTERDAY! It is simple, just mail the Governor, your state representative, and local councilman! Get the ball rolling! Faxes and certified mail is the best route to go, unregistered seems to have quite a knack for becoming "lost?" Also CALL! If I had not called and kept calling I would NEVER have even hope of ANYTHING EVER being done to convict my brothers murderer!

We all think, "What does MY opinion matter?" Just remember this, THOUSANDS of us joined as a TEAM is the only way there will EVER be CHANGE, and HOPE!

Fri, 06/29/2007 - 3:25am Permalink

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.