NEW CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST FORMER MPD OFFICER

A former Meridian police officer has been released from the Lauderdale
County jail on $2,500 bond after being charged with felony illegal
possession of more than 100 units of phenobarbital - a hypnotic sedative
used to fight seizures.

Meridian Police Chief Benny DuBose said Donald Morgan, a former K9 handler,
was arrested on Monday.

It was the second set of charges against him stemming from a drug raid at
his Clarke County home in early May. Morgan was initially charged with
illegal possession of cocaine and illegal possession of crystal
methamphetamine.

The search came after he was found disoriented in his patrol car on May 3;
he was transported to a local hospital.

All the charges specify "illegal" possession of drugs. This is because
Morgan's K9 partner was a drug dog and the former police officer
periodically used actual drugs in training sessions.

DuBose said the new charges were made after investigators learned that
possession of more than 100 units of phenobarbital is a felony.

"We had to determine that first before we brought the charges against him,"
DuBose said, adding that the phenobarbital was seized during the raid of
Morgan's home.