Officer Arrested In Drug Probe Resigns
MARTINEZ, Calif. (AP) -- An officer facing drug charges in the investigation of a Northern California drug task force has resigned from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's office.
Authorities say that Stephen Tanabe, a deputy sheriff who had been put on administrative leave, resigned on Thursday.
The 47-year-old was arrested last week on suspicion of possession and transfer of an assault rifle and conspiracy to possess and sell controlled substances.
He was released $260,000 bail and has yet to be charged.
Tanabe was arrested shortly after Norman Wielsch, the former commander of the state's now-suspended Central Contra Costa Narcotics Enforcement team and private investigator Christopher Butler were arrested last month on drug charges.
Wielsch and Butler are both out on bail after pleading not guilty to 28 counts alleging they sold drugs stolen from a county evidence room and drug task force seizures.
The case remains under investigation.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
