Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jul 2003
Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Fayetteville Observer
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Venita Jenkins, Staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm ( Corruption - United States)

ROBESON SHERIFF'S OFFICER RESIGNS

LUMBERTON - The former supervisor of the Robeson County sheriff's drug
task force has resigned after being placed on administrative leave.

Lt. C.T. Strickland left the Sheriff's Office on June 27, according to
the county's Human Resources Office.

Strickland was placed on indefinite leave in early June because his
credibility had become an issue, Sheriff Glenn Maynor said at the time.

Superior Court Judge Gregory Weeks threw out evidence in a drug case
in September after learning that Strickland falsified information to
get a search warrant.

Strickland was in charge of the drug task force for eight years. He
had been with the department since 1990.

Strickland could not be reached for comment.

Maynor declined to comment.

The case involved Christopher Dean Logan and Gary "Pee Wee" McLean.
They were charged with selling cocaine from a home they shared on
Samuel Drive in Red Springs. District Attorney Johnson Britt later
dropped the charges.

Strickland told Magistrate Tom Espey that he had information about
drug activity in the home that Logan and McLean shared, according to
court records. Strickland said an informant had made a buy at the home
under his supervision.

Evidence surfaces

During a hearing, Weeks heard evidence that the informant had never
worked any cases with Strickland. He had met the woman the day before
the drug transaction, according to court documents. She had never been
in the house and had never witnessed a drug transaction there,
according to the documents.

Weeks ruled that Strickland had "knowingly" provided false
information to Espey to obtain the warrant.

Britt said Friday that he has not decided whether to pursue a criminal
indictment against Strickland for perjury.

Perjury is a Class F felony punishable by up to 68 months in
prison.

Jerry Weaver, the Fayetteville district supervisor for the State
Bureau of Investigation, said his office has not been asked to look
into the incident.

The state Sheriff's Education and Training Standards Commission is
investigating Strickland.

John Bason, a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Justice, would not
elaborate on the investigation.

"The investigation is ongoing," he said. "I understand that
Strickland recently resigned but Training and Standards has not yet
received any documentation from the Sheriff's Office with regard to a
change in his status there."

Staff writer Venita Jenkins can be reached at  (910) 738-7630.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake