FORMER OFFICER INDICTED ON DRUG CHARGES

Man Could Face Up To 80 Years In Prison

Former LSU Police Sgt. Jeremy Strickland was named Feb. 19 in an
indictment along with two other men for charges of possession and
intent to distribute illicit drugs.

An East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury handed down the seven-count
indictment. Strickland faces charges of possession with the intent to
distribute methamphetamine and cocaine as well as being principal to
the distribution of 200 grams to 400 grams of gamma hydroxy butyrate,
or GHB. In total, Strickland is implicated in four of the seven counts
in the indictment.

If convicted on all counts, he faces a minimum of 12 years in prison
and could serve as many as 80 years.

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center of the U.S.
Department of Justice, methamphetamine is usually produced by Mexican
criminal organizations and transported into Louisiana where it is
consumed and distributed by Caucasian clients.

The Center also said cocaine distribution groups take advantage of
Louisiana's proximity to Houston, a major distribution center, to
obtain supplies. Crack cocaine is the drug most often associated with
violent crime in the state.

GHB is prevalent in the Louisiana club scene, the Center said. The
drug is often involved in date rapes. Police indicate that the
University crowd is often involved in the distribution and abuse of
GHB.

The Reveille reported on Oct. 23 that Strickland was arrested on Oct.
17 in the 4600 block of Bennington Avenue near The Station Sports Bar
and Grill.

At the time, BRPD Cpl. Don Kelly said narcotics detectives allegedly
saw Strickland go to a truck, retrieve something from inside and snort
the material.

BRPD officers found one gram of cocaine when they searched the
vehicle.

"The officers had been tipped off that there was heavy drug activity
in the area," said Molly Balfour, East Baton Rouge Parish Prosecutor.

Balfour said after Strickland had been detained, Chad Black, another
man named in the indictment, approached the scene. When police
searched him, they found a tab of ecstasy in his pocket and they found
the quantity of GHB in his vehicle.

"It came to light that Strickland was in Black's car earlier in the
night and knew that the GHB was in the car," Balfour said.

She said additional statements from witnesses and the suspects
indicated Strickland was probably responsible for placing the GHB in
Black's vehicle.

LSUPD Maj. Ricky Adams said Strickland was placed on paid
administrative leave at the time of arrest. He said Strickland was
terminated on Oct. 21, despite local media reports that Strickland
still was on paid leave.

Adams said the department has a zero-tolerance policy regarding
employees arrested in connection with a felony.

"We took immediate action," he said. "We based our action on the
probable cause of the arresting officer."

Adams said as a civil service employee, Strickland has a right to
appeal his termination, but as of this time, he has not chosen to do
so.