Pubdate: Sat, 26 Apr 2003
Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Fayetteville Observer
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: James Locklear
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

ACCUSED LUMBERTON POLICE OFFICER RESIGNS

LUMBERTON - A police officer who was accused of planting evidence on a 
suspected drug dealer resigned Tuesday.

The former officer, James Jordan, was placed on administrative leave in 
January. Jordan and Lt. Leon Oxendine, who also was placed on leave, were 
being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation.

Lumberton police Chief Robert Grice refused comment on Jordan's 
resignation. He referred questions to James Moore, the city's human 
resources director.

District Attorney Johnson Britt, who had been out of town, said he didn't 
know that Jordan had resigned.

He said the allegation against Jordan and Oxendine came as a result of an 
undercover federal investigation late last year involving the State Bureau 
of Investigation, FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Britt said a task force was working undercover at a Lumberton motel when 
Oxendine, Jordan and other officers came to the motel with a search warrant.

"As a result, it blew the investigation," Britt said. "The (federal and 
state officers) questioned the target in a debriefing. He made allegations 
that the Lumberton police officers had planted evidence in a house where he 
was arrested previously."

Britt said he looked at the man's file and found a computer disk, which the 
man said the officers had planted. Britt would not say what was on the disk.

"Because of the unusual nature, I asked the SBI to investigate," Britt said.

The investigation is continuing.

Jordan had worked for the city since August 2001. He was a member of the 
city's selective enforcement team, five officers trained to work in 
high-crime, drug-infested areas.

Oxendine, who commands the unit, has worked at the department since 1978. 
Neither man could be reached for comment Friday.
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