Deputy faces cocaine charge

Deputy faces cocaine charge: "Deputy Jesus R. Contreras, 29, and another man, Ernesto Castro, 38, both of Nogales, Ariz., were indicted on the charges after authorities determined the men conspired to transport 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of cocaine from an unknown date through March 2, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
Contreras was charged with drug trafficking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Castro was charged with drug trafficking.
Contreras, who had been a deputy for six years, was accused of transporting the cocaine through an Interstate 19 checkpoint in his marked patrol vehicle while in uniform.
He was fired from the Sheriff's Department and was taken into custody by FBI agents Tuesday, said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada.
He began working for the department as a detention officer in 2002 before becoming a deputy in 2004, Estrada said.
'I'm terribly disappointed. Any time a peace officer betrays trust is a tremendous disappointment,' Estrada said.
'We're here to enforce drug laws. The last thing we need is an officer doing something we're trying to prevent,' he said."

Posted in: Deputy faces cocaine charge