By Tina Reed
The Capital
MILLERSVILLE, Md. — A 36-year-old county police officer was arrested Friday after investigators said they discovered he had tipped off people suspected of having drugs before a search warrant was executed at a south county home.
Cpl. Rick Alexander of Pasadena was charged with obstructing the police and misconduct in office, as well as conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, police said. The charges are all misdemeanors, said county police spokesman Lt. Michael Brothers.
When police showed up for a surprise search and seizure of drugs at a Shady Side house on the 1300 block of Juniper Street Thursday night, detectives found only a small quantity of drugs in the house.
But after interviewing the five suspects who were in the house, detectives realized the group had received an advance warning about the search, according to police.
Detectives were told Alexander, who was working in the southern district at the time of the incident, knows the suspects and gave them the warning. It is unclear how Alexander knows the suspects.
The suspects led detectives to a different location where the drugs had been moved and hidden.
They discovered 82.9 grams of suspected marijuana worth an estimated $829.
On Friday, investigators and the State’s Attorney’s Office, using conversations and phone records, confirmed Alexander had tipped off the group about the 10 p.m. raid.
Alexander, who has worked for the Anne Arundel County Police Department for 14 years, was taken before a District Court commissioner. He was released on personal recognizance.
He is still working for the department, but his police powers have been suspended while he is being investigated criminally, as well as internally, by the department, Brothers said.
Police did not disclose yesterday whether the five suspects were charged following the raid.
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