RIPLEY POLICE CHIEF ARRESTED ON FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES

Ripley Police Chief Bert Conely is out on $5,000 bond today after
pleading not guilty to each of seven counts alleging he possessed
drugs to sell them.

Conely appeared Tuesday before Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander to
enter his plea to the federal charges.

Although Conely is out on bond, he can't possess a firearm, must have
no contact with government witnesses and must submit to supervision
of the U.S. Probation Office, according to Alexander's order.

The indictment was made public Tuesday. It alleges that from May 17,
2006, until Nov. 21, 2006, Conely possessed marijuana and
hydrocodone, a narcotic pain reliever with intent to distribute. The
indictment quotes Conely as saying that the marijuana came from
Mexico and was in a vault at the police department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Maxwell is prosecuting the case. The
investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

"There can be no tolerance for law enforcement officers who dishonor
their badge and engage in the very same criminal activity that they
were sworn to prevent," said Stephen A. Luzinski, DEA assistant agent
in charge in Mississippi.