Police: Fayetteville officer kept drugs in his condo, helped some avoid arrest

A Fayetteville police officer was charged for his alleged involvement with illegal drugs and helping those who broke the law avoid arrest.

During a news conference on Tuesday night, Fayetteville Chief of Police Kemberle Braden explained the charges that officer Izreal Gear-Johnson faces after an investigation launched based on an anonymous tip.

"On Oct. 6, the Fayetteville police got a tip identifying a police officer as being involved in illegal narcotic activity," Braden said. "This tip allowed us, as a department, to initiate a criminal investigation into those activities."

Gear-Johnson is accused of helping people who broke the law avoid arrest. Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said he even helped a runaway juvenile stay on-the-run.

"The allegation is that he advised them where not to go and so forth to be detected by the license plate reader system," West said.

Gear-Johnson lived in the Galleria Condominiums off Pamalee Drive in Fayetteville, where police believe he harbored illegal drugs in his condo. During his time as an officer, he answered calls for service, appeared at crime scenes and helped with investigations that led to charges. Some of those charges may have now to be dropped.

"We're going to review all those cases," Braden said. "We'll work diligently with the district attorney's office to ensure that none of the things that he had influence over has impacted any of the criminal cases as they move forward."

Police got a CrimeStoppers tip last week that led to the investigation. Gear-Johnson was on administrative leave without pay as the investigation continues within the department and the FBI. However, as of Thursday, Gear-Johnson's employment status was updated to suspension without pay.

"I think the gravity of the allegations required some immediacy in my actions," Braden said. "We are doing our best to hold ourselves accountable internally and externally."

Gear-Johnson, 23, was sworn in as an officer in June 2022. His charges include:

• Two counts of willfully failing to discharge duties
• One count of common law obstruction of justice
• One count of conspiracy
• One count of maintaining a dwelling for keeping controlled substances

Gear-Johnson made his first court appearance on Wednesday.

Braden said Gear-Johnson received a $100,000 secured bond. Johnson is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center. If he makes bond, a judge said he'll have to stay in Fayetteville and can't leave Cumberland County.

More charges are possible.