Pubdate: Tue, 17 Oct 2006
Source: Herald-Sun, The (Durham, NC)
Copyright: 2006 The Herald-Sun
Contact:  http://www.herald-sun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428
Note: Archived as printed on website

DEPUTIES' 'PROBLEMS'

It is always disappointing when law enforcment officers are charged 
with breaking the law. The citizens they have pledged to protect and 
serve see such violations as a betrayal. If police officers and 
deputies don't obey and respect the law, why should anyone else?

Over the summer, Durham residents felt the sting of such a betrayal 
when two off-duty police officers were charged with assaulting a cook 
outside of a Raleigh sports bar. It was a major embarrassment for the 
Police Department, which Police Chief Steve Chalmers correctly took 
seriously. After investigating the charges, Chalmers found good 
reason to send officers Gary Powell and Scott Tanner packing.

Now, Sheriff Worth Hill finds himself in a similar, but far more 
serious predicament. Last week one of Hill's deputies, Michael P. 
Owens, was suspended after he was arrested and charged with 
trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and 
maintaining a building for the sale and delivery of drugs. Owens is 
free on a $50,000 bond.

The charges stem from the narcotics raid of a North Roxboro Street 
nightclub -- La Zona -- that is owned by Owens. The Sheriff's Office 
narcotics unit seized about 1.4 ounces of cocaine during the raid and 
are also invesitgating charges involving the creation or distribution 
of fake IDs, drivers' licenses and Social Security cards. They are 
also looking into charges involving prostitution.

Hill has also suspened two other deputies -- Brad King and Keith 
Dotson -- who regularly worked security at the night club. Although 
neither has been implicated in trafficking in cocaine, Hill, without 
specifying the reason for the suspension, told reporter Ray Gronberg, 
"They've got some problems."

Four other men who were described as employees or regular customers 
of the bar were also arrested and charged with being involved in the 
alleged distribution of cocaine.

We commend the Sheriff's Office for facing last week's adversity head 
on. And we urge Hill, as we did Chalmers, to conduct the 
investigation into these alleged crimes thoroughly and to share the 
results freely with the public.

Citizens must feel that they know the complete truth behind what was 
going on at La Zona. It's the only way to maintain the scared trust 
that exists between citizens and law enforcement officers.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman