OFFICER ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES

Wallace police officer was arrested at the Wallace Police Department
by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations Tuesday on six
drug and robbery charges.

David Brown Jr. was taken into custody at about 11 p.m., according to
a press release from the State Bureau of Investigations. He was taken
to the Duplin County Jail and placed under a $200,000 secured bond.
Brown, 31, was charged with conspiring to sell cocaine, conspiring to
deliver cocaine, conspiring to sell marijuana, conspiring to deliver
marijuana, robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiring to commit
robbery with a dangerous weapon.

On Wednesday, he also was charged with receiving a bribe and was
placed under an additional $150,000 secured bond.

If ultimately convicted of all charges, Brown could receive a maximum
sentence of 505 months in prison.

His next court date is April 13. Duplin County District Attorney Dewey
Hudson said in a seperate press release that if Brown cannot post
bail, he will be moved outside of Duplin County for his own safety.
The SBI's investigation began at the request of the district
attorney's office. The Wallace Police Department and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation, which is
ongoing, said Noelle Talley, public information officer for the N.C.
Department of Justice. In the written statement, however, Dewey
emphasized that there were no other law enforcement officers
implicated or suspected in connection with Brown's arrest.