By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
Sheriff Greg Bartlett said the arrest of one his deputies on a federal drug charge shouldn't reflect poorly on the rest of the department's officers.
"This is an isolated incident," Bartlett said. "This should not reflect on any other officer with the Morgan County Sheriff's Department. We have 46 great officers in this department."
Deputy Gregory Lamar Johnson was arrested Monday for possession of marijuana. He was taken to Huntsville for arraignment in federal court.
Johnson's arrest followed an undercover operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Decatur Police Department. Johnson was patrolling the Lacey's Spring area on Monday when Bartlett called him back to the office, took his badge and gun and placed him under arrest. Johnson was led away wearing his sheriff's department pants and a t-shirt.
According to an affidavit related to the case, Johnson gave marijuana to a female friend. Some of the marijuana, officials said, was taken from suspects in other drug cases and given to his friend in evidence bags.
Johnson began working at the Morgan County Sheriff's Department April 29, 2002. Some of the charges relate to time when Johnson worked at the Hillsboro Police Department.
Bartlett said the department is reeling from the arrest.
'This is a sad day in the department," Bartlett said. "This is something that will not be tolerated whatsoever."
Johnson is free on $10,000 bond. He now faces a disciplinary hearing within the department. He could be dismissed from his job at that time.