Police officer accused of planting drugs, coercing another victim into having sex, authorities say

OAKDALE, La. (KPLC/Gray News) - A police officer in Louisiana is accused of attempting to plant drugs and trying to coerce a victim into having sex.

Jalen Melbert, 33, of Oakdale, was arrested Monday on charges of abuse of office and malfeasance in office.

According to detectives, Melbert attempted to use his position as an officer to influence a victim to engage in sexual activity with him.

In a separate incident, investigators say Melbert allegedly worked with another person to plant illegal narcotics at a residence, which led to the arrest of an innocent person.

Oakdale Police Chief Kevin Johnson released a statement saying the department is fully cooperating with the investigation.

“The Oakdale Police Department is fully cooperating with Louisiana State Police to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation, he said. ”We take all allegations of misconduct seriously, and the alleged actions do not reflect the standards we expect of our officers."