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PRESCOTT – After a tip from a jail inmate, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office arrested one of its patrol deputies Sunday.
Justin Dwyer faces drug charges.
“We were first made aware by a person incarcerated in our jail,†YCSO Cmdr. Scott Mascher said during Monday’s press conference. “It definitely gives us a black eye and tarnishes our badge. I personally apologize to our community if any trust has been lost.â€
The 39-year-old deputy, who has been with the agency since 1999, faces seven felony counts including possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, use of cocaine, involving a minor in a drug offense and driving under the influence of drugs.
The charge of involving a minor in a drug offense stems from an April 26 incident when Dwyer sent his 16-yearold son to buy 3.5 grams of cocaine from a drug dealer,the Sheriff’s Office says.
On Sunday, while off duty, Dwyer obtained a usable amount of cocaine and drove to a convenience store at the intersection of Gurley and Sheldon streets where deputies arrested him, the Sheriff’s Office reports.
Mascher said it took his staff about a month to gather enough information to arrest Dwyer, whose assignment involved patrolling in the Northern Area Command, which includes the Prescott area.
Mascher said Dwyer admitted to a personal cocaine habit. Dwyer’s urine sample showed cocaine in his system and he was under the influence when he drove to the store, he said.
After the arrest, the Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Dwyer’s home and discovered drug paraphernalia items, a usable amount of cocaine and several firearms, including guns that the deputy owned personally.
During the search, detectives found a small amount of marijuana on Dwyer’s son, and they booked him into the Yavapai County Juvenile Detention Center in Prescott, Mascher said.
Mascher said no other deputies appear to be involved.
“This seems to be specific just to one officer,†he said.
Mascher said during the investigation, “We did use listening devices.â€
He said they have found no indication that Dwyer was selling cocaine or that he has been using drugs other than the cocaine.
The Sheriff’s Office is looking into the possibility that Dwyer’s drug involvement may have compromised other criminal cases.
“That has been a topic and a concern,†Mascher said.
However, they have been unable to determine whether Dwyer used drugs while on the job.
The Sheriff’s Office has placed Dwyer on administrative suspension without pay pending further investigation.
Mascher specify couldn’t the latest time the Sheriff’s Office drug-tested its deputies and detention officers, but said that the Sheriff’s Office started developing random drug test policies before this incident. Dwyer’s arrest emphasizes the need for it, he said.
Dwyer received some notoriety nine months ago when he noticed a suspicious plant growing between two driveways in the Pine Lakes Senior Subdivision outside Prescott. The attractive weed charmed its residents and they kept watering it.
When it grew to be about 5 feet tall, it couldn’t escape Dwyer’s well-trained eye. He determined it to be a wild growing marijuana plant.
PRESCOTT – After a tip from a jail inmate, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office arrested one of its patrol deputies Sunday.
Justin Dwyer faces drug charges.
“We were first made aware by a person incarcerated in our jail,†YCSO Cmdr. Scott Mascher said during Monday’s press conference. “It definitely gives us a black eye and tarnishes our badge. I personally apologize to our community if any trust has been lost.â€
The 39-year-old deputy, who has been with the agency since 1999, faces seven felony counts including possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, use of cocaine, involving a minor in a drug offense and driving under the influence of drugs.
The charge of involving a minor in a drug offense stems from an April 26 incident when Dwyer sent his 16-yearold son to buy 3.5 grams of cocaine from a drug dealer,the Sheriff’s Office says.
On Sunday, while off duty, Dwyer obtained a usable amount of cocaine and drove to a convenience store at the intersection of Gurley and Sheldon streets where deputies arrested him, the Sheriff’s Office reports.
Mascher said it took his staff about a month to gather enough information to arrest Dwyer, whose assignment involved patrolling in the Northern Area Command, which includes the Prescott area.
Mascher said Dwyer admitted to a personal cocaine habit. Dwyer’s urine sample showed cocaine in his system and he was under the influence when he drove to the store, he said.
After the arrest, the Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Dwyer’s home and discovered drug paraphernalia items, a usable amount of cocaine and several firearms, including guns that the deputy owned personally.
During the search, detectives found a small amount of marijuana on Dwyer’s son, and they booked him into the Yavapai County Juvenile Detention Center in Prescott, Mascher said.
Mascher said no other deputies appear to be involved.
“This seems to be specific just to one officer,†he said.
Mascher said during the investigation, “We did use listening devices.â€
He said they have found no indication that Dwyer was selling cocaine or that he has been using drugs other than the cocaine.
The Sheriff’s Office is looking into the possibility that Dwyer’s drug involvement may have compromised other criminal cases.
“That has been a topic and a concern,†Mascher said.
However, they have been unable to determine whether Dwyer used drugs while on the job.
The Sheriff’s Office has placed Dwyer on administrative suspension without pay pending further investigation.
Mascher specify couldn’t the latest time the Sheriff’s Office drug-tested its deputies and detention officers, but said that the Sheriff’s Office started developing random drug test policies before this incident. Dwyer’s arrest emphasizes the need for it, he said.
Dwyer received some notoriety nine months ago when he noticed a suspicious plant growing between two driveways in the Pine Lakes Senior Subdivision outside Prescott. The attractive weed charmed its residents and they kept watering it.
When it grew to be about 5 feet tall, it couldn’t escape Dwyer’s well-trained eye. He determined it to be a wild growing marijuana plant.
He would not only be fired but prosecuted as well.
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