Opelousas Police Officer Charged With Bringing Drugs Into Jail

OPELOUSAS, La. (KPEL) -- A city police officer has been arrested amid allegations he gave prescription medication to inmates at the Opelousas City Jail.

State Police Trooper Stephen Hammons says 51-year-old Sergeant Kenneth Edwards was arrested following a complaint from Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow who suspected Edwards was distributing the drugs.

An investigation determined Edwards was getting the same type of drugs from several different doctors in the area. He then brought the medication into the jail, Hammons says, and distributed them to inmates on at least two different occasions.

Edwards has been booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on two counts of distribution of narcotics, two counts of doctor shopping, and two counts of introduction of contraband into a penal institution.