City Security Guard Arrested On Drug Charge

By TBO.com
Published: January 28, 2009

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TAMPA --

A security guard for the city's Parks and Recreation Department has been suspended without pay after police arrested him on a drug-trafficking charge, officials said.

Ronnie Lee Gipson, 38, was wearing his security uniform about 11:55 p.m. Tuesday when he sold nine pills of the prescription painkiller oxycodone to an undercover officer for $120, Tampa police said.

Gipson was charged with felony armed trafficking minutes after the meeting at North Jasmine and East 108th avenues, records show. He was being held without bail at the Orient Road Jail today.

Officers seized three pistols from Gipson, as well as 46.7 grams of oxycodone, 23.8 grams of Xanax and $5,267 in cash, a report states.

Linda Carlo, a spokeswoman for the Parks and Recreation Department, said Gipson has been suspended without pay pending a pre-disciplinary hearing. He has worked for the city since 2003.