Police Say Officer Tried To Buy Crack Cocaine
LEESBURG, Fla. -- Former Leesburg police officer Charles Pinkston was booked into the Lake County Jail on Wednesday. Investigators say he tried to buy crack cocaine while he was still an officer.
Detectives began investigating him about three weeks ago, when they said Pinkston showed up to buy $300 worth of crack. Pinkston saw a fellow office at the pickup location, so he took off. The dealer turned out to be an informant.
"The agents didn't think a whole lot about it at the time, but when no one showed up to buy the drugs, that's when the bells and whistles started to go off," said Sgt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators said cell phone records and a photo line-up tied Pinkston to the secret informant. The informant didn't realize he or she was dealing with an officer.
Pinkston quit the force last week after learning of the investigation. The Leesburg Police Department wouldn't comment on camera because of the ongoing Internal Affairs investigation, but a Lieutenant did confirm that Pinkston had been a patrol officer for eight years. He never worked any drug cases.
"We have zero tolerance for it, [and] we're going to investigate it just exactly the same as if it were any member of the general public," said Sgt. Herrell.
Pinkston bonded out of jail Wednesday evening.
WFTV
Detectives began investigating him about three weeks ago, when they said Pinkston showed up to buy $300 worth of crack. Pinkston saw a fellow office at the pickup location, so he took off. The dealer turned out to be an informant.
"The agents didn't think a whole lot about it at the time, but when no one showed up to buy the drugs, that's when the bells and whistles started to go off," said Sgt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators said cell phone records and a photo line-up tied Pinkston to the secret informant. The informant didn't realize he or she was dealing with an officer.
Pinkston quit the force last week after learning of the investigation. The Leesburg Police Department wouldn't comment on camera because of the ongoing Internal Affairs investigation, but a Lieutenant did confirm that Pinkston had been a patrol officer for eight years. He never worked any drug cases.
"We have zero tolerance for it, [and] we're going to investigate it just exactly the same as if it were any member of the general public," said Sgt. Herrell.
Pinkston bonded out of jail Wednesday evening.
WFTV
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