"It is alleged that Brownlee was involved in illegal activities while still a police officer, he said."

Tuesday August 1, 2006
News

Ex-cop arrested in drug roundup

By Steve Nash — Brownwood Bulletin

A former Brownwood police detective was arrested Sunday on a federal drug warrant as local law enforcement officials continued a roundup of more than two dozen methamphetamine trafficking suspects.
Britt Brownlee, 28, who resigned from the Brownwood Police Department on Sept. 28, 2005, was arrested without incident by Brownwood police and sheriff’s deputies at his parents’ home in Brownwood, Brown County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tony Aaron said.
Brownlee was charged by federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, Aaron said. It is alleged that Brownlee was involved in illegal activities while still a police officer, he said.
Brownlee was among federal defendants who were transferred Monday morning from the Brown County Jail to San Angelo for their initial court appearance.
Twenty-seven people had been arrested as of Monday on a variety of federal and state charges, Aaron said. Twenty-two of the suspects were booked into the Brown County Jail and five others were arrested in other counties, he said.
Most of the arrests were made early Friday morning, although some were made Thursday and continued over the weekend, Aaron said, adding that more arrests are expected.
The arrests stemmed from an investigation that began in Brown County more than a year ago, Aaron said.
The indictments and arrest warrants were issued as a result of a joint investigation by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Sheriff Bobby Grubbs said.
Aaron would not reveal details of the case against Brownlee, saying only that he is alleged “to have been involved with a group of others in the distribution of methamphetamine.”
Aaron said it is alleged that Brownlee was involved in illegal activity from 2003 to the time of the indictment. When asked if the allegation covers the time when Brownlee was a police officer, Aaron said, “From these dates, you could draw that conclusion.”
Aaron would not say what prompted an investigation that involved Brownlee. “We had received information about his involvement for some time,” Aaron said. Brownlee joined the Brownwood Police Department as a patrolman on Oct. 28, 1999, and started work in the criminal investigation division on April 24, 2003, police records state.
Brownwood Police Chief Virgil Cowin said he is disappointed at the development involving his former officer.
“This is a (Drug Enforcement Agency) case. I don’t know what facts they have. I don’t know anything about their case,” Cowin said.
About 50 state, federal and local law enforcement officials were involved in the Friday morning arrests, authorities said.

According to jail records, others arrested were:
Jaime Arredondo, 29, Brownwood, engaging in organized crime (state charge).
Rene Carrasco, 39, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.
Julian Chacon, 50, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.
Matthew Coursey, 27, Brownwood, engaging in organized crime (state charge).
Ricardo Fuentes Jr., 26, Bangs, engaging in organized crime (state charge).
Miguel Hernandez, 31, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.
Luke Hopkins, 23, Brownwood, engaging in organized crime (state charge).
Dewayne Lopez, 27, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.
John Mallone, 48, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.
Jeffrey Martin, 33, Brownwood, engaging in organized crime (state charge).
Colin Matthews, 33, engaging in organized crime possession of a controlled substance, possession of under 2 ounces of marijuana, possession of a dangerous drug (state charges).
Efran Rios, 22, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.
Oscar Rodriguez, 48, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.
Armando Ruiz, 36, Mangus, sealed federal indictment.
Jeremiah Salazar, 29, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.
Cheyenne Weathermon, 18, Brownwood, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of a dangerous drug (state charges).
Martin Boland, age and charge unavailable.
Adrian Chapa, age and charge unavailable.
Dennis Daniels, age and charge unavailable.
David Olalde, 26, Brownwood, sealed federal indictment.

It was the third major roundup in Brown County involving state, local and federal agencies in 18 months.
The investigation parallels a separate investigation conducted last week by the West Central Texas Inter-local Task Force and Brownwood police in which 10 people were arrested, Grubbs said.

source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2006/08/01/news/news01.txt