Houston Cop Charged in Drug, Corruption Case

HOUSTON (AP) _ A veteran Houston police officer has been accused of accepting bribes in a drug trafficking and corruption case.

Prosecutors say Officer Leslie Aikens was arrested Wednesday after finishing his shift.

Aikens, who’s been a Houston officer for 19 years, has been indicted on charges of extortion and of aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He allegedly accepted $2,000 to protect a vehicle believed to be hauling 15 pounds of cocaine in March.

The indictment was returned June 22 and unsealed Wednesday.

Aikens, 46, appeared before a federal magistrate, who was released after posting a $50,000 bond. A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office had no information on an attorney for Aikens.

Houston police Chief Charles McClelland said Aikens had been suspended pending an internal affairs investigation.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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