• Officers Accused Of Stealing From Hispanic Motorists

Three Mount Olive police officers accused of stealing from Hispanic motorists during traffic stops were arrested Tuesday. Sgt. Joshua Ehnert and patrolmen Freddy Southerland and David Johnson are each charged with conspiracy to commit larceny. Investigators say the three men would pull Latino men over, demand their wallets and then take their money. Juvenico Peralta, president of the state's Mexican-American Association, said many Latinos were victims of a shakedown, but they were afraid to report it.. The officers were all suspended earlier this month.  The arrests stem from an undercover bust in which investigators say they took a wallet from an SBI agent. The three officers were suspended without pay shortly after the undercover bust. The Mount Olive police chief said all three men have officially resigned within the last week. All three are now free on bond. [more ] and [more ]