SBI ARREST WALLACE OFFICER

WALLACE -- A Wallace Police Department officer has been arrested on
several serious felony drug and robbery charges following a
months-long investigation into allegations of his involvement in the
armed robbery of an area grocery store, and conspiring to commit drug
sales on two separate occasions.

On Tuesday, the State Bureau of Investigation arrested Warsaw police
Officer David Brown Jr., 31, of 209 Sloan St., Wallace.

Brown has been charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver a Schedule
VI controlled substance, conspiracy to sell and deliver a Schedule II
controlled substance, robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy
to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. He has been placed in the
Duplin County jail under a $250,000 secured bond, according to warrants.

The SBI reportedly began its investigation at the request of the
Duplin County District Attorney's Office in July 2006. The Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the Wallace Police Department assisted in
that investigation.

According to warrants, Brown is alleged to have conspired to sell and
deliver both cocaine and marijuana with Geovanny Sauceda. The
conspiracy to sell and deliver the marijuana reportedly occurred on
Dec. 1, 2005. The conspiracy to sell and deliver cocaine reportedly
happened on Jan. 7, 2006.

In between those alleged drug sales, Brown is also accused of
participating with Sauceda, as well as two others, Dennis Padilla and
Nestor Zaylaya, in an armed robbery of La Frontera on Dec. 23, 2005.

Warrants state that $15,000 in cash was taken during the robbery, in
which Brown allegedly was armed with a pistol and threatened to use it
on clerk, Ely Chanis. The warrants state that Brown =93committed this
act by means of assault consisting of having in possession and
threatening the use of=94 the firearm.

The Duplin County District Attorney's is handling the prosecution of
the case.

District Attorney Dewey Hudson could not be reached for comment by
press time.