Raleigh police officer accused of trafficking drugs to be held indefinitely without bond

23-year-old Keven Rodriguez, a field operations division officer with the Raleigh Police Department was arrested last week and charged with distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm.

The former officer also waived his right to a preliminary hearing in federal court, where a judge would have heard evidence that would indicate there is probable cause to try this case.

WRAL News has reached out for an employee photo or mugshot of the officer multiple times but has not yet received one. Cameras were not allowed in the federal courtroom on Tuesday.

Officials said Raleigh police and the DEA received anonymous complaints in the fall of 2021 about the officer involving the distribution of controlled substances. The agencies immediately launched an investigation.

As part of the investigation, a confidential source agreed to meet Rodriguez on Jan. 24 at an abandoned car dealership along Capital Boulevard in Raleigh. The informant gave the officer $2,600 in cash and Rodriguez gave him a substance in return, the criminal complaint said.

Federal authorities allege the drug exchange happened while the officer was on duty, in uniform, driving in his patrol car and with his service weapon.

Investigators watched the drug deal go down via surveillance audio and video device worn by the informant, according to the criminal complaint.

The case is being prosecuted federally because of the amount of drugs involved — 56 grams of cocaine.