UPDATED with warrant information.
Narcotics officers arrested a Columbus County deputy on drug and pornography charges last night.
Bradley Scott Rockwell, 48, a two-year veteran of Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and longtime local law enforcement officer, was arrested for delivery of marijuana, maintaining a place to keep/sell controlled substances, and illegal dissemination of pornographic materials. His bond was set at $50,000.
Warrants show Rockwell allegedly delivered 1.1 grams of marijuana to an undercover informant at his home. He later sent the same informant a photo of his genitals via Facebook private message, according to the warrant.
Sheriff Jody Greene said Rockwell, a courthouse bailiff, was arrested after a search warrant was conducted at his residence on Evergreen Church Road.
“Let me be crystal clear,” Greene said. “ I do not care who you are, what you do, your social and economic status, race, religion, or color. If you take part in distributing drugs in Columbus County, expect to see me at your door next.
“This really hurts the hard working and honest law enforcement officers of Columbus County and across our great nation. However, we are held to a higher standard and this office will hold those accountable that choose to break the law.”
Rockwell previously worked for the Chadbourn Police Department. He left there in 2016, according to his Facebook profile, to join the Fair Bluff Police. He went to work with the sheriff’s office in 2019.
Chadbourn Police records show that Rockwell was hired by the town as an officer in 2009. In May 2013, he was reassigned to the Public Works Department for the town, and in December went back to the CPD. He was promoted to corp[oral in February 2014, and served as interim police chief from April until August 2015. He resigned from the department June 2, 2016.
The investigation is ongoing.
