Off-duty officer for jail arrested on drug charge

1/15/2005

A Lucas County corrections officer was arrested yesterday after he was alleged to have about $5,600 worth of suspected powder cocaine in his possession.

Authorities acted on information from the sheriff's office that he was allegedly involved in illegal drug activity while off duty.

Dexter Joiner, 41, of West Toledo, was booked into the Lucas County jail on a drug-abuse charge. He was freed on his own recognizance later in the day.

He was suspended with pay pending the outcome of an administrative investigation by the sheriff's office, said Jon Rogers, the sheriff's internal affairs director. No administrative charges have been filed.

Mr. Joiner was arrested without incident about 12:20 p.m. in a parking lot at 1920 Collingwood Blvd. Authorities seized about an ounce of suspected cocaine and his sport utility vehicle.

Authorities were investigating him for several months based on information from Sheriff James Telb's administration that Mr. Joiner was selling and using drugs outside work, Toledo police vice squad Lt. Dan Schultz said. Information was developed that Mr. Joiner allegedly would be making a drug transaction in the parking lot, and undercover officers arrested him shortly after he arrived.

The suspected cocaine was found during a search of his SUV.

Mr. Joiner joined the sheriff's office in 1995. He could not be reached for comment last night.