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DURHAM -- A former Durham police officer who was indicted last month on federal drug and weapon charges turned himself in to U.S. marshals in Durham last week and was released on bond, a clerk at the federal courthouse in Greensboro and Peace's attorney said Wednesday.
The ex-officer, Sherrod Peace, 35, is accused of distributing crack cocaine and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
The clerk said no hearing date has been set on the charges.
Durham attorney James D. "Butch" Williams Jr. is handling his case. Williams said Peace turned himself in to U.S. marshals Friday morning and had an initial hearing that day before a federal magistrate at the U.S. Post Office building in Durham. He was released on $25,000 bond.
"We are vigorously investigating the allegations contained in the indictment and preparing his defense," Williams said Wednesday. "Mr. Peace looks forward to his day in court."
Williams said the case will probably be held in Greensboro or Winston-Salem, since there is no longer a federal court in Durham.
Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez said he received a complaint in early October 2009 that Peace was involved in illegal activities, and started a criminal and internal investigation. The criminal investigation was conducted by Durham police detectives with help from a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration task force.
Peace joined the Durham Police Department in 2003 and was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Bureau. Police said he resigned Dec. 31, 2009.
He played football at Northern High School and was a defensive lineman at UNC Chapel Hill in 1998 and 1999.
