Trooper placed on administrative duty

The agency would not say what prompted the disciplinary action.

Potts has been with the agency since Feb. 17. 2001, and was assigned to Durham and Granville counties, Gordon said.

The Highway Patrol's image has been plagued in recent years by a number of cases involving state troopers who have resigned, been fired or been disciplined for inappropriate or questionable conduct, including profiling, drunken driving, animal abuse, sex on duty and inappropriate text messages.