RALEIGH -- A former assistant chief and reserve officer with the Columbus Police Department is facing prosecution for buying excessive amounts of pseudoephedrine, according to the State Bureau of Investigation.

Christopher Joseph Rome, 44, of Columbus, was arrested at the Polk County Jail by the SBI on Tuesday for three counts of exceeding the purchase limits of pseudoephedrine. Rome allegedly made these purchases and in a manner that circumvented the statutory amounts allowed by state and federal laws since October, 2014.

The legal purchase limit of pseudoephedrine in North Carolina is no more than 3.6 grams per calendar day and not to exceed 9.0 grams in a 30-day period.

Columbus Police Chief Chris Beddingfield requested this investigation on February 6, 2015 based on information received from a concerned citizen. The concerned citizen allegedly reported that Rome had conducted suspicious and excessive purchases of pseudoephedrine.

Rome was given a written promise to appear in court for these charges on April 1.

 

Contact: Teresa West
Phone: (919) 582-8511