POLICE CHIEF STILL HAS CONFIDENCE IN OFFICERS

ZANESVILLE -- Zanesville Police Chief Eric Lambes said he is
confident that no more officers with his department will be charged
with conspiracy or drug charges as a third officer was arrested this
morning.

Donald E. Peterson, 33, who has been with the department for a couple
of years, Lambes said at a press conference at the Muskingum County
Sheriff's Office, was arrested early this morning along with four
other individuals on two federal charges.

"The Zanesville Police Department is a dedicated group of officers,"
Lambes said. "I still lay claim to that."

The others, Peterson's wife, Serritha D. Peterson, 29; Shelly M.
Tyson, 32; Steven Gibson, 65 and Gary Moody, 50, were also taken into
custody this morning by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and
deputies with the Muskingum County Sheriff's office and all were
transported to the Franklin County Jail for processing.

Muskingum County Sheriff's Office Col. Bryan Hoover said his office
has been investigating Peterson since two former Zanesville police
officers were arrested on federal charges in October.

Lambes said he became aware of the investigation into Peterson
shortly before Sean Beck and Trevor Fusner, were arrested.

"It's really not news to the Zanesville Police officers or the
administration," Lambes said.

But, Hoover said this case is not connected to Sean Beck or Trevor
Fusner, who both resigned from the police department in late October.

Another officer, Chad Mills, of the Genesis HealthCare Systems
Police, was also arrested along with Fusner and Mills.

The Petersons, Tyson, Gibson and Moody are all scheduled to be
arraigned in a federal court this afternoon.

If convicted on the charges, they face up to 40 years in prison.