Kristi E. Swartz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He is a nine-year Atlanta police officer, the son of a retired law-enforcement officer, and now Lucius Solomon III has his department in an outrage and his family numb.
On Thursday, Solomon, 31, pleaded not guilty to multiple drug-trafficking and weapon charges in federal court. He faces charges of attempting to distribute five kilograms of cocaine and possessing a firearm while participating in multiple sales of cocaine, according to court documents.
The command staff of the Atlanta Police Department expressed anger that one of its own was in trouble with the law.
“I was outraged to learn that one of our own officers was engaged in illegal activity of this magnitude,” Atlanta interim Police Chief George Turner said in a statement.
“This department will not tolerate any misconduct or illegal behavior by our sworn officers. APD will continue to sponsor and support any investigative initiatives that identify police officers who engage in illegal activity. This indictment should serve as a reminder to everyone, including police officers, that no one is above the law,” Turner said.
An officer in Zone 6, Solomon was under video surveillance and arrested Wednesday night, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Alan Baverman on Thursday.
Solomon’s attorney, Wilmer “Buddy” Parker, asked that the officer’s bond hearing be delayed until today so Solomon can be interviewed by pretrial officials.
Solomon could face 65 years in jail if he’s found guilty of all seven counts of drug and weapon charges. He faces a minimum of 10 years in jail for each drug charge and an additional five years for the first weapon charge and 25 consecutive years for each of the additional gun charges.
Atlanta police worked with the FBI to arrest Solomon, Turner said.
Solomon’s father, who is a retired Georgia Department of Public Safety hearings officer, and his godparents were in the courtroom. They declined to speak to reporters after the hearing.
“They are in shock over the charges,” Parker told reporters.
Deb Johnson met Solomon, then a recent police academy graduate, when he provided security for the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club and she let golf fans park at her East Lake home.
“He was just a very nice man,” Johnson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
At a 3 p.m. news conference Thursday, Parker described Solomon as “a local boy who lives with his father,” and one who should be viewed as a solid citizen. Before joining APD, Solomon served eight years in the U.S. Army and attended college for four years.
“He is not a risk of flight ... he is not a danger to the community. He should be afforded a bond,” Parker said.
As for the charges against Solomon, Parker said little. “We’ll wait and see what the video shows,” he told reporters.
Parker said some of the incidents allegedly took place in Zone 6, where Solomon works, and some outside of that area. Parker said he wasn’t given any other specific information.
Staff writer Bill Rankin contributed to this article.
Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution