FOX 8 received this news release from the Louisiana State Police Tuesday evening:
MONROE—An eighteen-year veteran State Police sergeant was arrested Monday by
troopers from the agency's Bureau of Investigation and charged him with a
variety of criminal violations including narcotics distribution, according to
Superintendent of State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson.
Edmonson disclosed the details of the arrest after flying to Monroe Tuesday
afternoon to personally take possession of the sergeant's badge, credentials
and state-issued weapon. At the time of his arrest, Thomas was
immediately suspended from duty pending the outcome of an administrative
investigation.
Troopers arrested 42-year-old Ronald Thomas of Monroe without incident
Monday afternoon and booked him into the Ouachita Parish Jail Monday evening
where he is still being held. Prior to his arrest Thomas had been
assigned as the evidence custodian for northern Louisiana investigative
operations.
After consulting with District Attorney Jerry Jones and his staff, Thomas
was charged with payroll fraud, malfeasance in office, conspiracy to distribute
cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and obstruction of justice.
Edmonson said that several months ago, information was developed during the
course of another investigation suggesting Thomas' possible involvement in
illegal activity. After months of accumulating evidence in furtherance of
the allegations troopers moved quickly Monday to make arrests. Troopers
executed a search warrant on Thomas' property and seized nearly $50,000 in cash
and a stolen weapon. Other items have also been seized and are currently
being processed.
"I want to emphasize that it was State Police troopers who learned of
Thomas' misconduct, it was troopers who aggressively pursued this high priority
investigation, and it was troopers who arrested the sergeant and booked him.
We have no reluctance whatsoever identifying police misconduct and taking
appropriate action, even if it happens to be one of our own officers," Edmonson
said.
"Thomas has dishonored his oath, his organization and more importantly the
community he swore to protect. We will push for the strongest possible
punishment," Edmonson said.
Investigators also arrested 38-year-old Leonard Dunn of Monroe. Dunn was
charged with 3 counts of distribution of marijuana and 1 count of distribution
of hydrocodone. Thomas apparently had conspired with Dunn to sell large
quantities of cocaine in northeast Louisiana. Thomas also apparently made
attempts to warn Dunn that he was being investigated and instructed Dunn to
destroy evidence and dispose of money.
"Our work is not yet done. This investigation continues to evolve and
other arrests are possible. While we have no reason to believe that any
other troopers are involved, we will nevertheless go wherever the facts take
us. We will be unrelenting in pursuing anyone else who might have been
involved in the illegal activities," Edmonson said.
While drug evidence was utilized in furtherance of this criminal
investigation, no State Police cases have been compromised as those evidentiary
items were from fully adjudicated cases and the evidence had been set aside for
destruction, according to investigators.
"We are confident that no on-going criminal cases awaiting trial have been
affected by Thomas' misconduct. We have also ordered an immediate
inventory of the evidence most recently under Thomas' supervision and control.
That inventory will be conducted by personnel from the State Police Crime
Lab. I have also directed a thorough a review of internal procedures to
address any potential vulnerabilities in our evidence system," Edmonson said.
If convicted on all charges Thomas faces up to a
$76,000 fine and 92 years in prison. If convicted on all charges Dunn
faces up to a $65,000 and 40 years in prison
Ronald Thomas (LSP photo)
Leonard Dunn (LSP photo)
