MUNCIE COP SOLD COCAINE WHILE ON DUTY, OFFICIALS SAY

MUNCIE, Ind. -- A police officer who faces drug charges was videotaped
selling cocaine from his patrol car while on duty, a prosecutor said.

The footage was recorded by a police drug task force hours before Tyrone
Haskins was arrested while on duty Friday, Delaware County Prosecutor
Richard Reed said Monday.

"They watched him do it, and when he was arrested, he was in possession,"
Reed told The Star Press.

Haskins, a Muncie officer since 1989, was booked into jail early Saturday
and was released on bail. He faces preliminary charges of dealing cocaine
and possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. Reed said he expects to
file formal charges this week.

Haskins, 40, could not be reached for comment. His home phone number is
unlisted.

He has been suspended, and the city's Police-Fire Merit Commission was
scheduled to meet Tuesday to determine whether Haskins would be paid during
his suspension. Police Chief Joe Winkle said he is recommending that pay be
withheld and said authorities are "in the process of filing termination
papers."

Haskins also was a security guard at Muncie South High School. The school
has replaced him, Winkle said.

Haskins was ordered to take a drug test in 1997 after a packet of cocaine
was found in a wallet inside a police car. The wallet belonged to Haskins,
Winkle said.

After Haskins tested positive for cocaine use, he was suspended for two
weeks for flunking the test and two more weeks for allegedly lying during
the investigation.

He passed subsequent drug tests in 1999, 2001 and this year, Winkle said.

Police began to suspect him of dealing drugs four months ago.

"We are looking at the possibility that maybe we should have been a little
more aware; maybe there were some signs we didn't pick up on that should
have maybe led us in this direction," Winkle said.