Polk County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Shawn Thomas Lucas
AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- A Polk County sheriff's deputy was arrested on suspicion of selling OxyContin tablets because of financial difficulties, WKMG-TV reported. Shawn Thomas Lucas, 30, was charged with armed drug trafficking after he allegedly sold the pills to undercover detectives, who found a fully loaded .45-caliber handgun in his vehicle, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Deputies said detectives had received information that Lucas was selling OxyContin and arranged to meet him in the parking lot of Save-A-Lot shopping center, located at Havendale Boulevard and 42nd Street in Auburndale.
Lucas, who was off-duty at the time, agreed to sell the undercover detective six whole pills and nine half pills, a total of 4.4 grams, with an approximate street value of $200, deputies said. Lucas was arrested without incident and consented to a search of his 1999 Ford pickup, where detectives recovered his personal weapon, according to the sheriff's office. Lucas told detectives he and his family were having financial difficulties, and that his deceased father had been prescribed the OxyContin, the sheriff's office said. Detectives said they recovered approximately six quarter-piece pills, or 80 mg, at Lucas' residence. Lucas resigned from the Polk County Sheriff's Office upon his arrest. Lucas, who had been assigned to the South County Jail, was hired on March 6, 2006, and had no disciplinary actions during his employment. Lucas worked for the Florida Department of Corrections, prior to being hired by the sheriff's office.