Associated Press
MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A police officer who faces drug charges was videotaped selling cocaine from his patrol car while on duty, a prosecutor said.
The footage was recorded by a police drug task force hours before Tyrone Haskins was arrested while on duty Friday, Delaware County Prosecutor Richard Reed said Monday.
“They watched him do it, and when he was arrested he was in possession,” said told The Star Press.
Haskins, a Muncie officer since 1989, was booked into jail early Saturday and was released on bond. He faces preliminary charges of dealing cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.
Reed said he expects to file formal charges this week.
Haskins, 40, could not be reached for comment. His home phone number is unlisted.
He has been suspended, and city’s Police-Fire Merit Commission was scheduled to meet Tuesday to determine whether Haskins will be paid during his suspension. Police Chief Joe Winkle said he is recommending that pay be withheld.
Winkle also said authorities were “in the process of filing termination papers.”
In addition to working full time for the police department, Haskins worked at Muncie South High School, where he was a security guard. The school has replaced him, Winkle said.
Haskins was ordered to take a drug test in 1997 after a packet of cocaine was found in a wallet inside a police car. The wallet belonged to Haskins, Winkle said.
After Haskins tested positive for cocaine use, he was suspended for two weeks for flunking the cocaine test and two more weeks for allegedly lying during the investigation.
He passed subsequent drug tests in 1999, 2001 and this year, Winkle said.
Police began to suspect him of dealing drugs four months ago, the police chief said.
“There was just information through the investigation of some other people,” Winkle said. “We are looking at the possibility that maybe we should have been a little more aware, maybe there were some signs we didn’t pick up on that should have maybe led us in this direction.”