City Police Officer Charged In Drug Dealing Conspiracy
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- He's supposed to keep drugs off the streets, but a city police officer has been accused of selling heroin in uniform and in the parking lot of a police station.
Weijia Jiang explains how investigators unraveled the drug ring.
It was the Baltimore police department that asked the FBI to investigate. Now one of their own could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted of felony drug and gun charges.
Baltimore police officer Daniel Redd, 41, is accused of being one of the masterminds in a conspiracy to distribute heroin across the city with drugs shipped in from Africa.
"He's supposed to be helping us, protecting us from the ones on the street doing it," said Jackie Chukwu, Northwest Baltimore.
Redd and four others are named in a seven count grand jury indictment. It says Redd made drug deals while on duty at the Northwest District, where he's assigned to patrol. Federal agents arrested him there on Tuesday morning.
"We hope that sends a powerful message that if you carry guns and deal drugs, whether you're a street corner junkie or a police officer, you're going to face a lengthy stay in federal prison," said Rod Rosenstein, U.S. Attorney.
In one of the most brazen accounts mentioned in the indictment, prosecutors say Redd walked right out of the Northwest police station wearing his full police uniform to another part of the parking lot where he handed off an undisclosed amount of heroin.
"The men and women of the police department out there right now, investigating crimes and keeping people safe, are embarrassed and outraged," said Anthony Guglielmi, Baltimore City Police.
Police say wire taps reveal Redd wanted an even bigger operation. He's quoted in the affidavit saying to a co-conspirator, "I get a little piece and you get the whole shebang. This is peanuts."
The men go on to talk about getting a big brick, or a kilo.
"You have this dude, so-called officer, making a mockery of the uniform. That's a slap in the face," said Redd's neighbor, Alvin Collins.
Redd, who also faces firearm violations, could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
During a court hearing held Tuesday, a judge ordered Redd be held pending a detention hearing after prosecutors called him dangerous and a flight risk.
Redd is due back in court on Friday.
