Officer Arrested on Drug Charges

A Jackson police officer finds himself on the wrong side of the law Friday night. U.S. Marshals arrested Officer Lavartes Burch at his home in rural Rankin County Friday morning on drug charges. Marshals were actually trying to serve a warrant on Officer Burch's cousin. U.S. Marshal Nehemiah Flowers says Burch, who has been with JPD for a year-and-a-half, displayed his badge and was uncooperative. Burch allegedly told officers his cousin, Shirley Davis, was at work and then warned her by cellular phone that she was about to be arrested. She was picked up Friday afternoon at a Rankin County store and charged with possession of cocaine. A search of Burch's home revealed drug paraphernalia including scales and a small amount of marijuana. He is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. Rankin County Sheriff's deputies took Burch to jail. He is out on a thousand dollar bond Friday night, and he has been suspended from the Jackson Police Department.