A northwest Georgia police officer was arrested Monday on marijuana trafficking, bribery and other charges after a six-month corruption investigation, the GBI said.
Veteran Rome officer Ernest Edward Cox, 39, is accused of providing sensitive law enforcement information to help Tyson Brown sell drugs out of his home, according to arrest warrants. Brown, 35, and Maverick Brown, 57, were arrested last week on allegations they had been selling drugs out of Tyson Brown's home.
GBI spokesman Greg Ramey said Cox had been a Rome officer for 15 years when police contacted his organization in October after receiving information about the alleged corruption.
Undercover agents began purchasing marijuana from Tyson Brown’s house on Jim Lee Drive in Rome, GBI officials said. Two other Rome homes were also investigated.
About 14 pounds of marijuana, packaging materials, more than $127,000 and two guns were found during a search warrant of the three homes.
Tyson Brown and Maverick Brown face marijuana trafficking charges. Tyson Brown also faces a marijuana distribution charge.
Rome police and the Floyd County District Attorney’s Office assisted the GBI in the investigation that resulted in Cox’s arrest.
In addition to trafficking and bribery, Cox was charged with violation of oath of office and tampering with evidence, Ramey said. Cox is being held at the Floyd County jail without bond.
Anyone with information about Cox is asked to contact the GBI at 706-624-1424.
“This investigation is active and ongoing,” Ramey said.
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