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RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh Police Officer had his initial appearance today on charges of distributing cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was arrested yesterday on these charges.

According to court documents, Keven Rodriguez, 33, a Field Operations Division Officer with the Raleigh Police Department, distributed cocaine while on duty in his patrol car.

The complaint alleges that the investigation began when members of the Raleigh Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Rodriguez was distributing controlled substances in the Raleigh area, and that Rodriguez was a police officer.

The complaint also alleges that a confidential source arranged to meet with Rodriguez on January 24, 2022. Rodriguez drove to the meeting location in his marked Raleigh Police Department patrol car and was carrying his duty firearm. The confidential source met with Rodriguez and gave Rodriguez $2,600 in cash.  Rodriguez then gave suspected cocaine to the confidential source. The drugs were later tested by a lab and confirmed to be approximately 56 grams of cocaine.

The complaint charges Rodriguez with two counts: (1) distribution of a quantity of cocaine; and (2) possession of a firearm in furtherance of, and using and carrying a firearm during, a drug trafficking crime.

He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison if convicted, and a maximum of life in prison.

Michael Easley, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Raleigh Police Department are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Sandling is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.