Trooper 'separated' from Highway Patrol amid probe into Harnett ticket irregularities

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating traffic ticket irregularities in Harnett County, and one trooper has "separated" from the agency, officials said Wednesday.

A Highway Patrol supervisor first learned of the irregularities during a weekly citations review. At issue whether troopers had written an excessive number of tickets to the same drivers.

The internal investigation focused on tickets issued by one trooper, but officials said there was evidence of another trooper’s possible involvement.

Trooper Jason R. Benson, a nine-year veteran assigned to Troop B in Harnett County, "was separated" from the Highway Patrol on Monday and is no longer employed by the agency, First Sgt. Michael Baker, a spokesman for the patrol, said in an email.

Trooper Christopher S. Carter, a five-year veteran assigned to Troop B, is on administrative duty pending the outcome of the internal investigation, Baker said.

An analysis by WRAL Investigates found each trooper has more than 230 cases pending in court between now and September. In dozens of cases, drivers were charged with eight, nine, even 10 infractions.

Three drivers were charged by the troopers multiple times on the same day, in some cases with the same offense.

"I absolutely have concerns," Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday. "I know the Department [of Public Safety] has concerns. I don't know how much detail has been discussed, but it should be thoroughly investigated, and whatever action needs to be taken should be taken."

Defense Attorney Jesse Jones, who has worked in Harnett County for 25 years and represented people in more than 1,000 traffic cases, said he was stunned by the allegations.

"Our Highway Patrol here in Harnett County is one of the most professional organizations you will ever deal with," Jones said. "I've never had any problem with those officers. They were always very forthcoming. [I'm] flabbergasted that anything like this could happen."

Why extra citations may have been issued is still unknown, but some observers speculate that more tickets makes an officer look more successful.

The Harnett County District Attorney's Office and the State Bureau of Investigation are independently examining the matter, officials said.

Harnett County District Attorney Vernon Stewart couldn't be reached Wednesday for comment on what will happen to the charges in potentially hundreds of traffic cases.

Jones said it's unfair to judge all troopers based on the investigation.

"Every once in a while, you will get a bad apple," he said. "What I found here in Harnett County is how you want officers to behave."