DEPUTY'S CRIMES MORE SERIOUS?

DURHAM -- The former sheriff's deputy fired for his alleged
involvement in a wide array of illegal activities at a local Durham
nightclub may have been involved in more serious crimes than the ones
for which he already stands accused, Durham County Sheriff's
officials said Wednesday. Sheriff's investigators are looking for
information that may connect former deputy Mike Owens to both human
trafficking and murder for hire, according to Capt. Paul Martin of
the Sheriff's Office.

Owens and six Hispanic males were arrested Saturday in a raid of the
2825 North Roxboro Road nightclub La Zona. During the raid,
approximately 5 ounces of cocaine were seized by investigators.

Two other deputies, William "Keith" Dodson and Brad King, both of
whom worked as off-duty officers at the club, were fired Monday for
allegedly violating the Sheriff's Office's "secondary employment"
policy. No criminal charges have yet been lodged against Dodson and
King, who may have been unaware of what was allegedly occurring
inside the club, Martin said Wednesday.

Search warrants released Tuesday for the 2825 North Roxboro
establishment owned by the former deputy alleged that vehicles and
individuals seen frequenting the club are known to be involved in a
wide array of criminal activities in Durham including "drug
trafficking, armed robberies, murder (for hire), prostitution and
human trafficking."

Asked Wednesday to elaborate on the warrant's mention of "murder for
hire," Martin said investigators do not yet have any solid evidence
Owens' played "a direct role" in any murders for hire. They do have,
however, recorded conversations in which Owens discussed murder
schemes, Martin said. Investigators who listened to hours of
conversation transmitted by an audio-recording device inside La Zona
nightclub heard Owens discussing activity involving "hit" men, Martin said.

"He's not the suspect of an actual murder ... he's just been involved
in conversations about it," Martin alleged. Martin added that
investigators are looking into what role, if any, Owens played in
crimes he allegedly discussed on the recordings.

Sheriff Worth Hill said that murder was the first thing that came to
mind when he'd learned of Owens' alleged involvement in the illegal
activities at La Zona, "but we don't have any evidence," he added.
Martin said investigators are also looking for any connections
between what they alleged was prostitution going on at La Zona and a
prostitution ring the Durham Police Department announced it was
investigating in August. During that investigation, police named
houses at 116 Junction Road, 217 North Hoover Road and 1949 Cheek
Road as alleged houses of prostitution. Martin said investigators
have yet to verify any connection between the La Zona case and that
particular network of brothels.

Still "furious" about his deputies' alleged involvement -- either
directly or on the periphery -- in the purportedly seedy on-goings of
La Zona nightclub, Hill said he is seriously considering prohibiting
all of his deputies from doing "off-duty work" work at bars and
nightclubs. According to the sheriff's current policy (last updated
in 2000), deputies can work at establishments that serve alcohol, but
they cannot enter the establishment except to use the bathroom. The
rule can be bent only if the deputy knows of criminal activity going
on inside the establishment -- such as a fight breaking out at the
bar -- Hill said.

The Durham County Sheriff's Office has more requests for off-duty
deputies than it can handle, Hill said, so he's not concerned about
cutting into any deputy's much-needed second job. Hill said he
doesn't know exactly how many deputies are employed at nightclubs and
bars, but said he is sure "there's a whole lot of 'em."

The policy change would be the only change made to Sheriff's Office
procedure because of the La Zona scandal, said Hill. Hill said he is
confident no other Sheriff's Office personnel will be implicated in
the La Zona probe and that he sees no need for any further
investigation into his agency.

Hill said he would meet with his remaining deputies at 7:30 a.m.
today to discuss the effect negative press swirling around the agency
has had on deputies' morale.