Pubdate: Tue, 05 Oct 2004
Source: Norman Transcript (OK)
Copyright: 2004 The Norman Transcript
Contact:  http://www.normantranscript.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/552
Author: Melissa Koontz, Transcript Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

31 ARRESTED IN DEA INVESTIGATION

Norman Police department officials are not releasing the names of three 
officers who were placed on paid leave Friday pending an internal 
investigation into criminal drug activity.

Lt. Tom Easley said the matter is personnel-related and the three officers 
have not been arrested.

He said the department is investigating whether the officers participated 
in criminal drug activity similar to that which led to Norman patrolman 
Kyle Sherman's arrest Thursday following a drug raid by Oklahoma Drug 
Enforcement Agency officials.

Sherman, 34, a 13-year Norman police department veteran, was charged in 
Oklahoma County District Court with conspiracy to distribute a controlled 
and dangerous substance - illegal steroids - according to court records. 
Bob Surovec, DEA assistant special agent in charge, said Sherman was one of 
31 individuals arrested in Oklahoma County Thursday as a result of an 
ongoing DEA investigation of a possible drug-ring operation in the metro area.

He said the investigation led to the arrest of Oklahoma Highway Patrol 
trooper Timothy H. Timmons, 36, as well as 29 other metro-area individuals 
including body building champion Monica Hale and former University of 
Oklahoma baseball pitcher Curtis White.

He said the DEA investigation started more than a month ago when certain 
individuals suspected drug trafficking was taking place in the metro area.

Surovec said it took some phone-call monitoring and wiretaps to reveal 
their suspicions were true. But the investigation is being conducted on an 
areawide scale and is not focused on law enforcement agencies.

"This is not an investigation of police departments," Surovec said. "The 
focus has shifted somewhat onto the police since (Sherman and Timmons) were 
arrested."

He wouldn't speculate how long the investigation will take, nor would he 
estimate how many people will be arrested in the end.

Sherman and the three un-named officers all have been suspended from the 
department with pay, Easley said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D