THOMASVILLE OFFICER CHARGED IN DRUG CASE

Counts Against Sergeant On Force 11 Years Include Trafficking, Intent To Sell

An 11-year veteran of the Thomasville Police Department has been
charged with trafficking drugs.

Agents with the State Bureau of Investigation arrested Sgt. Russell
Earl McHenry, Jr., 32, at his home in Greensboro on Monday night.

McHenry was charged with two counts of trafficking the drug Ecstasy,
two counts of conspiring to traffic Ecstasy, possession with intent to
sell and deliver marijuana, and conspiracy to deliver marijuana,
according to the arrest warrant.

He spent one night in the Guilford County Jail and was released
Tuesday night after his bond was reduced from $100,000 to $45,000,
officials said.

He resigned from the police department the night of his arrest, Chief
Larry Murdoch said.

Thomasville police received a tip eight weeks ago that somebody in the
department was distributing drugs, Murdoch said. Department officials
called the SBI to help them investigate the allegations, he said. He
declined to discuss the investigation and what evidence led them to
suspect McHenry.

Murdoch said he believes that McHenry's arrest was an isolated
incident and that there is no reason to believe that other officers
were involved.

No further arrests are expected, officials said.

"The investigation is of him, and that's it," said Bob Clark, a
special agent with the SBI in charge of the Piedmont district.

McHenry joined the Thomasville police force in August 1990 and rose
through the ranks. He worked for the vice/narcotics unit from July
1994 to October 1996. He was promoted to sergeant and put in charge of
the patrol division in October 1999. He supervised seven officers.

"He had been a very good officer and done a good job for us," Murdoch
said.

There were no complaints filed with the department against McHenry,
Murdoch said.

"I have no reason to believe that he has been doing this for a long
time," Murdoch said.

McHenry's arrest has shaken the Thomasville Police Department, a small
force that emphasizes community policing.

"Unfortunately, it happened to us," Murdoch said. "But the men and
women of this department will rise above this."

Officials say they hope that McHenry's arrest won't affect the
department's relationship with the town.

"Our department will be stronger because a bad apple has been weeded
out," Councilman Danny Oakley said.