UT Police Officer Faces 4
Charges of Selling Crack

Published in The Toledo Blade on September 6, 1995.

A University of Toledo police officer was arrested yesterday on charges that he sold crack cocaine to undercover Toledo police four times.

Gerald Owens, 38, of 1951 Clarendon Dr. faces four counts of aggravated trafficking. He was to be held overnight in the Lucas County jail pending arraignment this morning in Toledo Municipal Court.

Frank Pizzulo, who as assistant vice president for facilities management is in charge of the university's police force, said the undercover drug buys were conducted away from the university and that no offenses occurred on campus or during Officer Owens's work shifts.

The undercover officers allegedly purchased small quantities of crack from Officer Owens during different buys in June and August.

Toledo police Captain Ron Span said a telephone timp prompted the investigatino and undercover operation.

Officer Owens joined the University of Toledo police in 1986, Mr. Pizzulo said. The only disciplinary actions on the officer's record, he said, have been "procedural' - relating to such issues as use of sick leave and reporting to work on time.

"There is nothing in his background to indicate he would do something like this, Pizzulo said. "My impression is tha he is well-liked around campus." Officer Ownes has been suspended without pay and a disciplinary hearing will be scheduled, Mr. Pizzulo said. No final action is likely, however, until the outcome of the criminal charges is known, he added.

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