Biloxi Police Officer Arrested on Drug Charges
June 5th 2005
BILOXI, Mississippi - Biloxi police officer Darrell Cvitanovich Jr., the son of a former police chief, has been charged with selling Ecstasy and having the illegal drug in his beachfront home.
Cvitanovich, 35, was being held Friday in a protective unit at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center after his arrest. The patrol and K-9 officer has worked at the Biloxi Police Department for more than 10 years. Police officials have placed him on administrative leave, said Capt. Pat Pope, commander of the Coastal Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Ecstasy, also know as MDMA, is an illegal stimulant known as a ''club drug'' because of its association with all-night dances or parties known as raves.
''We have no reason to believe any other police officer was involved,'' said Pope. The officer's father, D.D. Cvitanovich Sr., is a retired state trooper who served as the city's public safety director from 1989 to 1993 during the administration of Mayor Pete Halat.
The drug unit received information about two weeks ago accusing Cvitanovich of illegal drug activity, said Pope. He said Biloxi police officials were informed. It wasn't clear when the alleged drug sale took place or how much Ecstasy the case involves. ''We have established that he sold a controlled substance on a particular date at a particular time, and that is all I can say,'' Pope said.
Pope said Cvitanovich was home when agents went in with a search warrant and an arrest warrant on Thursday. He said agents found Ecstasy and a small amount of meth. Cvitanovich was charged with sale of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute.
Justice Court Judge Bruce Strong set bond at $25,000. Cvitanovich faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted on both charges.