Post by WaTcHeR on Dec 8, 2006 12:48:12 GMT -5
12.08.2006 - MOSS POINT - Moss Point police officer Wendy Peyregne was behind bars on a federal drug charge Thursday, the latest in a string of South Mississippi law enforcement officers arrested in unrelated crimes in the last year.
FBI officials said Peyregne was on duty, in uniform and holding approximately six grams of methamphetamine when she was arrested at an undisclosed location in Pascagoula early Thursday evening.
A Moss Point police officer since 2004, Peyregne was arrested on a federal charge of distribution of methamphetamine. If convicted, she could go to prison for up to 40 years and pay fines of up to $1 million.
Moss Point Police Chief Demetrius Drakeford could not be reached for comment Thursday.
But more details about the case are expected to come out during Peyregne's appearance at 10 a.m. today before U.S. Magistrate John Roper.
Peyregne is now among a growing number of South Mississippi law enforcement officials accused or convicted of wrongdoing this year.
Since January, four former Harrison County Sheriff's Department jailers have been arrested in a federal criminal investigation alleging a pattern of abuse at the jail where an inmate died in an assault.
In addition, a Biloxi police officer was convicted earlier this year of illegal drug possession after authorities found Ecstasy at his home.
Peyregne's arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the Moss Point Police Department, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County.
www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/local/16191749.htm
FBI officials said Peyregne was on duty, in uniform and holding approximately six grams of methamphetamine when she was arrested at an undisclosed location in Pascagoula early Thursday evening.
A Moss Point police officer since 2004, Peyregne was arrested on a federal charge of distribution of methamphetamine. If convicted, she could go to prison for up to 40 years and pay fines of up to $1 million.
Moss Point Police Chief Demetrius Drakeford could not be reached for comment Thursday.
But more details about the case are expected to come out during Peyregne's appearance at 10 a.m. today before U.S. Magistrate John Roper.
Peyregne is now among a growing number of South Mississippi law enforcement officials accused or convicted of wrongdoing this year.
Since January, four former Harrison County Sheriff's Department jailers have been arrested in a federal criminal investigation alleging a pattern of abuse at the jail where an inmate died in an assault.
In addition, a Biloxi police officer was convicted earlier this year of illegal drug possession after authorities found Ecstasy at his home.
Peyregne's arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the Moss Point Police Department, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County.
www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/local/16191749.htm