Bullitt corrections officer arrested on drug trafficking charges in Shively

Bullitt corrections officer arrested on drug trafficking charges in Shively

12:49 PM, May. 6, 2011  |  

Written by  Charlie White
cwhite@courier-journal.com

A Bullitt County corrections officer has been suspended without pay following his Thursday morning arrest in Shively.

Eric Risen, 26, of Brooks, was charged with four counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disregarding a traffic signal, Shively police said.

He was released on his own recognizance and will be arraigned in court early next week, according to jail records.

Shively Police Detective Josh Myers said an officer stopped Risen after he allegedly ran a red light at Dixie Highway and Garrs Lane about 4:30 a.m. Thursday.

Risen “seemed extremely nervous and agitated” and asked the arresting officer to “cut him a break because he was a Bullitt County corrections officer,” Myers said, citing the arrest report.

After questioning and a subsequent search of the vehicle, police found 28 hydrocodone pills, 28½ oxymorphone pills, six doses of anabolic steroids, three syringes, three needles, a gun and ammunition, Myers said.

Bullitt County’s chief deputy jailer Robert Etherton said Risen was hired as a part-time officer on Jan. 28 and was still in his probationary period, which he said means Risen could be fired even if the charges were dropped.

Reporter Charlie White can be reached at (502) 582-4653.