More than three dozen FBI agents, Alabama Homeland Security Task Force agents, U.S. Marshals and local authorities descended on the Prichard Police Department Tuesday morning. They arrested a police officer in a long-spanning conspiracy investigation.
Emanuel Naman Dotch II was charged with multiple federal crimes, including bribery, evidence tampering, conspiracy to commit extortion, and civil rights offenses.
According to a criminal complaint, Dotch is accused of associating with and assisting violent criminals and drug dealers in the Prichard and Mobile areas. Investigators believe he covered up and concealed crimes and evidence, conspired with other officers to conduct unlawful traffic stops, extorted individuals for bribes and accepted corrupt payments to transport marijuana.
Evidence was obtained through numerous sources and spans at least a couple of years, including evidence in a murder-for-hire case that was previously tried.
District Attorney Keith Blackwood said numerous crimes will be affected by the arrest. He said some cases may have been dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
Dotch is considered innocent until proven guilty.
Mobile County Sheriff’s Office is taking over investigations and 911 calls in Prichard. Sheriff Paul Burch said moving forward, his agency will relocate evidence at Prichard PD and reinvestigate many cases.
Mayor Carletta Davis thanked federal and local agencies and said the City would fully cooperate with the investigation.
“The darkest hour is just before daybreak. And so, I want you to know that we must carry on. Our community is strong and we will get through this. I promised a new Prichard when we came in, and I would like to thank our federal partners and our state and local partners for helping make that happen. And so again, let’s be calm and carry on.”
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