UNION OFFICER CHARGED WITH TRADING SEX FOR CRACK

A Union police officer faces charges of swapping crack for sex and other
illegal conduct over the past seven years following a State Law Enforcement
Division investigation.

SLED agents arrested 35-year-old Rodney Curt Johnson Thursday morning.

"A lot of the people were shocked that this happened -- disbelief," said
Union Public Safety Chief Sam White. "We talked about it, everybody that
was working today." Johnson, a full-time officer since 2000, was released
from Union County Jail Thursday night on a $20,000 bond.

Judge Jeff Bailey denied the Herald-Journal access to Johnson's 7 p.m. bond
hearing.He is charged with three counts of misconduct in office --
attempting to use his position and/or Union Public Safety property to gain
sexual favors, warrants state.

The final warrant states Rodney distributed crack cocaine in a city-owned
vehicle inside the city limits.

Johnson faces up to 45 years in prison for the charges.

The city of Union has 30 full-time officers. On Jan. 12, one of them
received information about Johnson's possible wrongdoings. He talked with
White. White says he called SLED that day.

For its part, SLED is remaining tight-lipped, refusing to comment on the
most basic information, such as the number of agents involved.

"It's an ongoing investigation, and it wouldn't be appropriate to comment
further at this time," Inspector Richard Hunton said.

"I felt like there needed to be an impartial and unbiased agency to
investigate," White said. "That's why we invited SLED in -- so there
wouldn't be that perception that we were trying to cover something up."

SLED agent E.D. "Spike" McCraw signed all four warrants.

Sixteenth Circuit Solicitor Tommy Pope said this was new to him. Pope, who
works out of York, is the top prosecutor for York and Union counties.

"This is the first one I've dealt with in over 12 years," Pope said. "But
unfortunately, we deal with all kinds of cases -- with private citizens and
public officials."

Pope would not comment about specifics because of the pending trial.

Johnson will be tried in Union County General Sessions Court.