Former Clover police officer arrested

A former Clover police officer has been charged with obstruction of justice and misconduct in office after investigators say he kept stolen jewelry found after a traffic stop for a few months.

The rings went missing after Hemen Edward Gower chased and caught a man who had robbed a Clover jewelry store, police said.

One of the stolen rings was recovered at the scene, but Gower didn't turn in the other jewelry until months later, police Lt. Randall Horn said.

"He said he found the rings near the arrest site a few months after the arrest," Horn said.

Gower, 50, turned himself in Friday, police said.

He was fired from the force three months ago for unrelated reasons, Horn said.