CHERRYVILLE, NC (WBTV) - Dozens of criminal cases will be dismissed by the Gaston County District Attorney's Office after three Cherryville police officers were arrested on federal corruption charges.
Friday afternoon, the district attorney's office confirmed 59 charges will be voluntarily dismissed. The cases relied on testimony from officers who were arrested.
The dismissed charges include eight DWI cases, five drug-related charges, one larceny case, and multiple traffic violations.
Three police officers involved in a federal investigation and corruption case have been fired from their jobs, according to documents obtained by WBTV News.
Acting City Manager Jeff Cash says that Casey Crawford, Frankie Dellinger and Trey Mauney were terminated. The city manager says he took the action because it was in the best interest of the city.
WBTV has learned that the FBI on Monday requested more information from city officials but Cash refused to say what the request was about.
The three officers are facing federal corruption charges after undercover FBI agents say they gave protection to trucks bringing shipments of stolen goods into the county in return for cash money.
Meanwhile, the city has named a 12-year veteran of the department its Acting Chief.
Cam Jenks tells WBTV "I would like to get things in place and start from the ground up and build this place where it needs to be to get going on the right track, earning public's the trust in the police department. That's a big issue".
Acting Chief Jenks says he was "shocked when word got out" that some of his colleagues were arrested by federal agents. He says he doesn't believe the scandal will taint everyone in the department.
"Everything will come out in the wash. I believe the public will know the officers left behind are good people, good officers", says Jenks.
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