News & Observer – by Will Doran
RALEIGH The police chief in a small Eastern North Carolina town was arrested Thursday, along with one of his lieutenants, and charged with corruption and other crimes, according to multiple news reports.
Southport Police Chief Gary Lee Smith and Lt. Michael Simmons were both charged with obtaining property by false pretense, according to Wilmington television station WWAY. Smith was also charged with obstruction of justice and willful failure to discharge the duties of his office, WWAY reported.
According to WRAL, Smith and Simmons were accused of working for a trucking and shipping company at the same time they were supposed to be working in their jobs leading the local police force, sometimes leaving the city or even the state while on the clock for the city police.
The entire police force has been put on leave because of the allegations against its top leaders, according to Wilmington TV station WECT, and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is taking over the police department’s duties.
WECT also reported that Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David said the investigation into the police chief and lieutenant began when local police officers began filing complaints.
Southport is home to about 3,600 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s about 28 miles south of Wilmington.
Doran: 919-836-2858; Twitter: @will_doran
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article215604290.html
Mr. Smith goes to jail.
I never did like him on..
Lost in space.
What a weasel.
He was an insult to weasels
This is EVERY pig pen
“….The entire police force has been put on leave because of the allegations against its top leaders….”
And the town will discover that they never needed them in the first place.
Watch out for the next guy
He’s probably the one that dropped the call on these guys
One crook pissed off that the other crooks are getting more than them
The unions won’t be pissed , chances are they were both compensated , pig union and teamsters are both crooks too
oh go ahead shut that illegal police department down who needs it anyway those people are better off without it!
they were all probably illegal from the start!