POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED IN BEACH DRUG INVESTIGATION

VIRGINIA BEACH - An off-duty police officer was arrested late Saturday
while attempting to purchase illegal drugs, police said Sunday.

The officer, identified as Jason Todd Armentrout, 30, is being held without
bond in the city jail.

On Sunday morning he was ordered suspended without pay. Armentrout has been
a member of the force since Jan. 16, 2002 and was assigned to the Third
Precinct.

Don Rimer, a police spokesman, said Armentrout's arrest came after his name
surfaced in the midst or a much larger, ongoing investigation.

The probe by the department's Special Investigative Narcotics Unit began
almost a year ago. "The investigation has been focusing on a variety of
individuals and a variety of locations throughout the Hampton Roads area,"
Rimer said.

Its target has been people involved in the possession, sale and
distribution of illegal narcotics, specifically ecstasy and
methamphetamine, Rimer said.

Given that the investigation continues, however, he said he could provide
no additional details on the overall effort.

The alleged involvement of Armentrout came to the attention of
investigators on Dec. 11, Rimer said.

It was unclear what the nature of the tip was, but it suggested "a member
of the department may be involved in the purchase and use of illegal drugs
and associating with individuals involved in this investigation," Rimer said.

He said investigators moved quickly and set up surveillance on Armentrout
and his known associates.

On Saturday, just after 11 p.m., investigators saw Armentrout "with other
targets of the investigation" in the vicinity of Birdeneck Road and old
Virginia Beach Bolulevard, Rimer said.

Later, they watched as he attempted "to acquire a quantity of ecstasy."

Investigators moved in shortly after and Armentrout was arrested.

Rimer emphasized that the alleged drug purchase took place while Armentrout
was off duty and that any use by him of the drugs also was believed to have
occurred while he was not on duty.

He is charged with attempted possession of a controlled substance.

Armentrout was not carrying any weapons at the time.