TWO CITY OFFICERS FACING CHARGES

Police Arrest Two Of Their Own Over Course Of Two Days

For the second time in a week the Columbus Police Department has been
forced to arrest one of its own officers.

Officer Gregory Diltz, 45, was arrested on Thursday and charged with
pointing a gun at another person. Records show he was booked into the
Muscogee County Jail on Thursday at about 1 p.m. Diltz was released
after posting a $250 bond and his case will be decided in State Court.

Police Chief Ricky Boren was not available for comment Saturday, and
police said the incident report on pointing a gun was not available
because it was still under investigation. Diltz's status with the
department was unavailable late Saturday.

This arrest came a day after Columbus police arrested officer Philip
Matteo on Wednesday on charges of forgery and illegally obtaining an
addictive painkiller with falsified prescriptions. Police were
investigating Matteo for two months before he was arrested in the 911
emergency center where he works in the Public Safety Center.

Free on $9,000 bond, Matteo also was placed on administrative leave
without pay.

Matteo, 54, is accused of illegally obtaining OxyContin, an addictive
drug similar to morphine. He is charged with two counts each of
second and third-degree forgery, three counts of withholding
information from a medical practitioner, one count of unlawful
acquisition of a controlled substance, and one count of attempting to
acquire an unlawful substance.

A 2 p.m. hearing for Matteo was waived Saturday in Recorder's Court.
The charges were bound over to Muscogee Superior Court.