Dekalb County Police Officer Arrested in Drug Investigation and Placed on Leave After Officials Say Case Began in Late October

DECATUR, GA — A DeKalb County police officer has been arrested in connection with a drug investigation, according to department officials. Authorities say 43-year-old Officer Marius Tassy was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon and now faces charges tied to unlawful practice of pharmacy and sale of dangerous drugs.

The police department says the case is still being investigated and that it began in late October. Tassy has been placed on administrative leave while officials review the matter and determine what happened.

Police say the investigation started in late October

Officials have released only limited information about how the investigation developed, but they say the matter has been active since the end of October. That timeline suggests the department had been looking into the allegations for several weeks before the arrest was made public.

No additional details were provided about the suspected conduct, how the investigation was opened, or whether other people may be involved. For now, the department is treating the case as both an internal personnel matter and a criminal investigation.

Officer faces charges tied to pharmacy practice and dangerous drugs

Police say Tassy is facing a charge of unlawful practice of pharmacy along with a charge involving the sale of dangerous drugs. Those allegations point to conduct that investigators believe crossed into criminal activity, though officials have not outlined the specific drugs involved or the circumstances behind the charges.

The department has not said whether the case involves an arrest by outside agencies, evidence recovered during the investigation, or any alleged victims. What is clear is that the charges are connected to the criminal probe and not simply an administrative review.

Chief Greg Padrick says officers must be held accountable

DeKalb County Police Chief Greg Padrick issued a statement saying law enforcement officers are expected to act with integrity, honesty and accountability. He said misconduct by an officer harms the credibility of the department and the profession as a whole.

Padrick also said the department will not tolerate criminal conduct by its own officers and will investigate and hold employees accountable when necessary. He added that the department’s commitment to the public comes before loyalty to any individual officer.

Tassy has been with the department since May 2023

According to officials, Tassy joined the DeKalb County Police Department in May 2023. That puts him at the agency for a little more than three years at the time of the arrest, making the case a notable personnel issue for the department.

The administrative leave status means he is not currently serving in his regular police role while the case moves forward. Officials did not say whether any further employment action has been taken, and they have not announced additional charges.

What the arrest means for the department going forward

The case adds pressure on the department to show how it handles allegations involving one of its own officers. Internal discipline and criminal accountability often move on separate tracks, and officials have indicated they intend to pursue both as appropriate.

For the public, the arrest raises questions about oversight and trust, especially in a case involving a sworn officer. Police have given no indication yet of when more details might be released, but the investigation remains active as the department examines the allegations.