PROBATION OFFICER CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING COCAINE

A well-known local probation officer has been charged with four counts of
trafficking cocaine after the State Bureau of Investigation said it caught
the officer in a sting operation in Stanly County.

Calvin Suber Jr., 43, of 710 Spencer Ave., Spencer, was being held today in
the Stanly County jail under $200,000 bond facing multiple felony drug charges.

Suber has been an employee of the N.C. Department of Corrections since 1982.

SBI agents arrested Suber and Daren Fitzgerald Bennett, 30, of 228 Winter
St., shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday night.

Bobby Bonds, acting SBI officer in charge for this area, said the arrests
came after a two-week investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation,
the Albemarle Police and the Stanly County Sheriff's Department. The U.S.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also was involved.

Bonds would not go into detail about the events leading up to the arrest
but characterized it as a "sting operation."

Officers seized 15 ounces of cocaine with a street value of $200,000. Bonds
said both men were arrested without incident.

In addition to trafficking, Suber is charged with conspiracy to traffic in
cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver and maintaining a
dwelling for sale of a controlled substance.

His first court appearance is set for Jan. 15 in Stanly County District Court.

The charges against Suber, all felonies involving cocaine, are two counts
of trafficking by possession of cocaine; two counts of conspiracy to
traffic by possession; conspiracy to traffic by transportation; possession
with intent to sell and deliver; and maintain a vehicle for sale and
transportation.

Bennett faces four trafficking related counts. His bond is also set at
$200,000.

Suber has lived in Rowan for more than 20 years. A graduate of Livingstone
College with a degree in social welfare, he previously worked at the
Piedmont Correctional Center.

A spokesman for the Department of Correction said Suber began work in that
department on July 20, 1982.

In his current assignment he works out of the Salisbury district office and
is assigned to probation and parole as an intensive case officer.

The spokesman said in cases where an employee is charged, the Department of
Correction does its own investigation.

Law enforcement agencies from Rowan and Stanly county were involved in
assisting the State Bureau of Investigation's arrests and search of
properties in both counties.

The Rowan County Sheriff's and Spencer Police departments worked together
to obtain consent to search Suber's house. The search turned up no drugs,
Sheriff George Wilhelm said.