Task Force officer arrested, suspended by Lewisburg Police chief

A Lewisburg Police detective assigned to the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force was suspended Saturday night by the police chief in connection with his arrest on a charge of public intoxication at an East Commerce Street sports restaurant.

Police Chief Chuck Forbis said on Sunday morning that he suspended Detective Chad Webster with pay pending a review of the records related to the detective's arrest by Sgt. Jackie McLean at Omar's Sports Grill from which a patron called police.

"Our officers responded to a call at Omar's and, when they saw who it was, they called me," Forbis said, estimating the call's time as at about 9:50 p.m. Saturday.

Webster was a patrol officer for about 2-3 years before being transferred to the task force as a detective, Forbis said, estimating Webster's tie on the task force at bout two years.

Forbis hoped to have sufficient documentation by sometime on Tuesday so that he may make a determination as to what should be done with regard to Webster's employment, the chief said during a telephone interview. Webster was suspended with pay, Forbis said.

"It's too early to tell" what, if any effect Webster's arrest will have on cases that he's been making with the task force, Forbis said.

Officially known as the 17th Judicial District Drug and Violence Task Force, the plain clothes police officers are technically under the district attorney's office which has jurisdiction in Marshall, Bedford, Lincoln and Moore counties. Director Tim Lane leads the task force. Its headquarters are in Shelbyville. Law enforcement officers from town and city police departments and the sheriffs departments provide personnel for the task force.