Monroe County sheriff’s deputy arrested on drug charges

A Monroe County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on drug charges, the sheriff reported in a Facebook post.

“One of my own, your own, has betrayed the trust we have placed in him,” Sheriff Brad Freeman said in the post. “...To make this worse, as if it could get any worse, he was wearing insignia identifying himself as a deputy with Monroe County during his illegal activity.”

Paul Nicholas Stewart has been charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and use of a communication facility in commission of a felony, according to the post.

On Friday morning, Freeman said in the post that he got a call from Butts County Sheriff Gary Long that an investigation revealed that Stewart was involved in alleged illegal drug activity.

Two Monroe County sheriff’s investigators were dispatched to Butts County to offer help with the investigation, Freeman said.

Within eight hours, Butts and Monroe sheriff’s investigators arrested Stewart, Freeman said.

Stewart was being held without bond Saturday at the Butts County jail.

“It goes without saying that I am extremely disappointed that this incident occurred and I do not and never will condone this sort of behavior in any of my employees,” Freeman said a news release issued Saturday afternoon. “Stewart is being dealt (with) in accordance with the law.”

This story was originally published January 4, 2020 at 2:55 PM.