Therese Apel

The Clarion-Ledger

A Hinds County Sheriff's Department interdiction officer was arrested and fired this week after drugs were allegedly found in his patrol car.

A release from the HCSO stated that the undisclosed amount of drugs were found in Larry Taylor's patrol vehicle on Tuesday.

Taylor, 31, is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, the release stated.

Taylor is a part of the interdiction unit, which deals with interstate crimes and is responsible for a large number of drug busts on the interstate.

"It is disappointing when we are put in a position to arrest one of our own," Maj. Pete Luke said. "Law enforcement officers are expected to hold themselves to a higher standard. These isolated events put doubt into the minds of the citizens that we serve."

Taylor has been booked into the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond.

In May, Hinds Sheriff Victor Mason announced that he and the Morton Police Department had formed a joint interdiction unit in order to target drug traffickers. Under the agreement, the sheriff’s department and Morton PD split cash and property that the unit seizes during its operations, officials said. It is unclear if Taylor was one of the two officers dedicated to that unit by HCSO.

Morton is in Scott County.

We have contacted the sheriff's department seeking additional details and are awaiting a response.

Contact Therese Apel at 601-961-7236 or tapel@gannett.com . Follow her on Facebook and Twitter .