Two On-Duty Officers Arrested on Federal Drug Charges

Two LR Police Officer Arrested on Federal Drug Charges
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette by Gavin Lesnick


LITTLE ROCK, AR — Two Little Rock Police Department officers have been arrested on federal drug charges alleging that they escorted drugs through the city while on duty, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas said Thursday. Mark Anthony Jones, 45, and Randall Tremayn Robinson, 38, were arrested Thursday afternoon. It wasn't immediately clear how long either had been an officer. “Those who are sworn to uphold the law are not above the law themselves,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Christopher Thyer said in a news release. “The Little Rock Police Department is an institution filled with honest and hard-working professionals who risk their lives daily for the safety of its citizens. As a prosecutor, it is difficult to accept that individual officers would take actions that ultimately harm our community; undermine the efforts of their fellow officers; and weaken the public trust in all of law enforcement. As difficult as it might be, however, it is our duty to fully investigate such allegations and, if substantiated, hold police officers accountable for breaking the law. We owe it to this community and, more importantly, to the upstanding individuals who wear the badge ofthe LRPD.” According to an affidavit provided by Thyer's office, Jones was on duty on Jan. 12 when he escorted what he believed to be a large shipment of marijuana from near Interstate 430 to a storage facility. He is accused of providing security for another shipment on Jan. 31, an act for which he was paid $2,000, authorities said. The purported drug dealer was actually a confidential source working with investigators, according to the news release. In February, Jones is accused of traveling to California and meeting with an undercover agent posing as a drug dealer. In that meeting, Jones agreed to get additional security for a 1,000-pound shipment of marijuana, the release said. Jones and Robinson are both accused of escorting that shipment on March 22 "while armed and in uniform," the release said, adding the men were each paid $5,000. Little Rock Police Department Chief Stuart Thomas called it "disheartening" to see officers in his agency arrested. "I am, however, extremely proud of the men and women of this Department who participated in this difficult and demanding investigation and who, throughout, demonstrated professionalism, integrity and confidentiality to the highest degree," Thomas said in the release. "I am also deeply indebted to the United States Attorney’s Office and the Little Rock Office of the FBI which, without hesitation, provided the resources and expertise necessary to bring this matter to a successful conclusion." The officers are facing charges of conspiracy to aid and abet possession with intent to distribute more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana, aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime, authorities said. The arrests come less than a year after five police officers in eastern Arkansas were arrested on federal drug and corruption charges, including allegations that they escorted drug dealers or protected drug shipments.