KALAMAZOO, MI --

Prairieville Township reserve police officer Michael Strong showed up at a hotel Tuesday in full uniform with his department-issued handguns for a rendezvous he thought was to exchange drugs for sex, according to court testimony.

On Wednesday, he appeared in jail-orange before a judge,

In obtaining an arrest warrant for Strong, Michigan State Police Sgt. Terry Klotz testified before Kalamazoo County District Judge Paul Bridenstine that investigators recently learned Strong, 37, of Plainwell, was connecting with men on a website called grindr, a dating site for gay men, in order to obtain "sexual favors for illegal substances."

MSP officers created a profile on the website using information Strong "would particularly like," Klotz testified. Strong then contacted the officers, according to the testimony, suggesting a meet-up where Strong would bring drugs including ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine.

They set up a meeting at the Holiday Inn off US-131 in Oshtemo Township, where Strong showed up in full police uniform with two handguns, a taser and a dispatch radio on him, Klotz testified. Strong also brought what the MSP sergeant said was the drug "molly," also known as ecstasy, and the prescription drug Adderall.

Police had wired the room with cameras and microphones, which recorded Strong telling undercover officers "what he was going to do," Klotz testified.

Strong was arrested, and officers conducted a field test of the drugs, which tested positive for amphetamine, Klotz said.

William Thompson, police chief for Prairieville Township in Barry County, said he was "shocked" to learn of the allegations and has put Strong on leave from the department.

The court also ordered Strong to surrender his law enforcement credentials, including his badge and handgun.

"It's disappointing," Thompson said. "He was very concerned about helping people and was a great communicator. It's all very shocking."

Thompson said Strong graduated from a reserve police academy in March and had risen to the top reserve officer of the three at the department. He excelled in administrative duties and budgeting and served as administrative officer to the chief, Thompson said.

"He helped us a lot with the grant application process," Thompson said.

Strong was also a firefighter and EMS worker for the township.

Thompson said Strong's absence will be a loss for the department. The township is now working to recruit reserve officers to help fill the void.

"Any loss of personnel is difficult," Thompson said. "We are now down to two reserve officers."

Strong's is scheduled to appear Jan. 28 before Bridenstine for a hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence against him to send the matter to trial.

Aaron Mueller is a public safety reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact him at amuelle1@mlive.com or 269-568-3867. Follow him on Twitter.