The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation today arrested a former McMinn County Sheriff’s Office deputy for one count of official oppression after he was indicted by the McMinn County grand jury earlier this week.
Justin Hester, 28, of 263 County Road 587, Englewood, Tn. was charged as a result of a TBI investigation that began in November 2011. While working as a McMinn County deputy, Hester made numerous traffic stops between the summer of 2011 and November 2011 which were not documented with the county’s dispatch.
The investigation revealed that Hester removed prescription narcotics, such as oxycodone, from the individuals and the vehicles he stopped and searched. He did not arrest or charge the individuals nor did he turn the pills into the evidence room at the sheriff’s office, keeping them for himself.
Many of the individuals did not realize Hester took the pills until after the traffic stop was concluded.
Hester resigned from the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office in December 2011.
Hester was booked into the McMinn County Jail and booked on a $5,000 bond.