Former Detroit narcotics officer facing drug charge

More than a week after two former Detroit narcotics officers, accused of robbing drug dealers, were arraigned on charges in federal court, another former drug cop is now facing a drug charge, according to court records.

Arthur Leavells was charged in U.S. District Court with count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig confirmed that Leavells is a former narcotics officer, who had been suspended and later resigned.

Craig declined to comment on the charges. A spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney's Office could not be reached for comment.

Former narcotics officers Lt. David Hansberry and Officer Bryan Watson, accused of robbery and extortion, were arraigned on April 9 on a number of charges.

According to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court, accusations against the officers include making traffic stops and fake arrests to steal drugs, money and property; arranging drug deals with civilians, then, rather than completing the sales, robbing and extorting the participants; and using their position as police officers "to assist in their scheme."

Hansberry and Watson are suspended without pay.

Leavells, records show, conspired to distribute cocaine between June 2010 and August 2014.

Earlier this month, Craig said he was troubled by the allegations against Hansberry and Watson and said: "The vast majority of the men and women of the Detroit Police Department are honest and hardworking; they honor the badge they wear and the oath they took to serve and protect the citizens of this city."

Another man, Calvin Turner, was also charged this week with conspiracy to distribute cocaine for an incident that occurred on April 16, 2013, according to court records.

And indicted earlier this month was Kevlin Omar Brown, who court records indicate was an "associate" of Hansberry. He was charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery or extortion.

Attorney Kenneth Sasse, who is representing Brown, said his understanding is that his client and Hansberry have "been friends for a long time." He also said that Brown "denies his guilt."

Records indicate that Brown has a criminal history that dates back decades.

According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Brown was sentenced to two years of probation on a weapons charge in April 1989 for an incident that occurred in February 1987.

Brown was also put on probation in 1991 for a weapons charge and, in another case, after being convicted of being an accessory after the fact to a felony in a case in which he had originally been charged with open murder and assault with intent to murder, court records show.

Brown was arrested in Southfield in November 2002 for operating while impaired and resisting and obstructing a police officer and was sentenced in April 2003 to 18 months of probation.

He was also put on probation in 2009 in a case out of Oakland County for failure to pay child support and was discharged from probation in 2012, according to the corrections department. Sasse said his understanding is Brown turned out not to be the father of the child.

Sasse said he is not sure which cases, but said his client is disputing some of his prior criminal record.

Contact Gina Damron: 313-223-4526 or gdamron@freepress.com