Pubdate: Wed, 12 Dec 2007
Source: Coshocton Tribune (OH)
Copyright: 2007 Coshocton Tribune
Contact: http://www.coshoctontribune.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.coshoctontribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3213
Author: Kathy Thompson

POLICE CHIEF STILL HAS CONFIDENCE IN OFFICERS

ZANESVILLE -- Zanesville Police Chief Eric Lambes said  he is
confident that no more officers with his  department will be charged
with conspiracy or drug  charges as a third officer was arrested this
morning.

Donald E. Peterson, 33, who has been with the  department for a couple
of years, Lambes said at a  press conference at the Muskingum County
Sheriff's  Office, was arrested early this morning along with four
other individuals on two federal charges.

"The Zanesville Police Department is a dedicated group  of officers,"
Lambes said. "I still lay claim to that."

The others, Peterson's wife, Serritha D. Peterson, 29;  Shelly M.
Tyson, 32; Steven Gibson, 65 and Gary Moody,  50, were also taken into
custody this morning by  Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and
deputies  with the Muskingum County Sheriff's office and all were
transported to the Franklin County Jail for processing.

Muskingum County Sheriff's Office Col. Bryan Hoover  said his office
has been investigating Peterson since  two former Zanesville police
officers were arrested on  federal charges in October.

Lambes said he became aware of the investigation into  Peterson
shortly before Sean Beck and Trevor Fusner,  were arrested.

"It's really not news to the Zanesville Police officers  or the
administration," Lambes said.

But, Hoover said this case is not connected to Sean  Beck or Trevor
Fusner, who both resigned from the  police department in late October.

Another officer, Chad Mills, of the Genesis HealthCare  Systems
Police, was also arrested along with Fusner and  Mills.

The Petersons, Tyson, Gibson and Moody are all  scheduled to be
arraigned in a federal court this  afternoon.

If convicted on the charges, they face up to 40 years  in prison.
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