POLICEMAN CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING

Richmond Official: Burgaw Officer Tried to Buy Cocaine

A Burgaw police officer was arrested in Richmond County on Wednesday,
accused of trying to buy half a kilogram of cocaine, authorities said.

Sgt. Michael Stevenson, 43, and two other area men remained in police
custody Thursday on felony drug charges in Rockingham, about three
hours' drive west of Wilmington.

Stevenson, a seven-year veteran of the Burgaw Police Department, was
charged with trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to traffic cocaine. He
was being held on a $500,000 bond, according to Richmond County jail
officials.

His first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 9, Burgaw officials
said.

The two other men police arrested were Robert Beatty, 37, of Castle
Hayne and James Patterson Jr., 39, of Burgaw.

Like Stevenson, Beatty and Patterson face charges of trafficking and
conspiracy to traffic.

Richmond County Sheriff Dale Furr said the arrests came as part of a
two-day operation in which an undercover officer was talking with the
men to sell them cocaine.

"They came up in a rental car. We met them off Hwy. 74 bypass ... at a
truck stop there," Furr said. "After we arrested them, we found out he
was a police officer."

Furr said the men were trying to buy half a kilogram of cocaine, which
he said has a street value of about $50,000.

Stevenson joined the Burgaw Police Department in 2000 as a patrol
officer, said Chief Wayne Briley. Briley referred all other questions
about the incident to Burgaw Interim Town Manager Martin Beach.

Beach said Thursday that Stevenson has been suspended without pay
until town officials and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office finish
investigating the allegations.

He said that District Attorney Ben David will review all of
Stevenson's cases including those the officer has already or was
scheduled to appear in as a witness for prosecutors "to ensure that
the integrity of the legal system is maintained."

Burgaw officials also have asked the State Bureau of Investigation to
help in any additional investigation that might be needed, Beach said.

"This was a complete shock to us, but we believe in the presumption of
innocence until proven guilty, so that's why we are investigating the
incident before we jump to any conclusions or make any hasty
decisions," Beach said.

Beatty and Patterson both have been charged with drug possession in
the past, according to state corrections records.

Patterson was given probation after being convicted in 1996 for
possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, the records
show.

Beatty, who was on parole, was released from prison in April after
serving nearly seven years following drug possession and intent to
sell convictions, according to the corrections information.