CaptionAn alleged murder-for-hire plot has been uncovered in Spring Lake involving an officer from the town's police department.
Spring Lake's Interim Police Chief Greg Jarvies said the State Bureau of Investigation is almost finished investigating a claim from a central prison inmate that a Spring Lake Police Officer offered to pay him to kill another officer.
In a letter addressed to the district attorney, inmate George V. Stokes claimed Sgt. Darryl Coulter offered to pay him $10,000 to kill a police officer.
Coulter is one of two officers arrested in May on several charges related to an investigation into the Spring Lake Police Department. Stokes wrote that Coulter claimed the unnamed officer turned Coulter and one other co-worker in.
Jarvies, who was brought in after Chief A.C Brown resigned, said he and the SBI do not believe the letter is credible.
"I agree, based on everything they uncovered during their interviews with the letter writer and with other people who know the letter writer, that it's a high percentage it's not credible," Jarvies said.
One reason for believing the letter isn't credible, he said, is an inconsistency with the date on the letter which is marked April 8, 2009.
"The indictments didn't occur until May 4," Jarvies said. "Coulter was not in custody."
Coulter's attorney, D.W. Bray of Fayetteville, had no comment about the letter.
Jarvies said all officers and staff were notified, but said threats aren't uncommon in law enforcement.
"We're not doing anything special because of the reminder -- but just a reminder -- everybody has to keep their guard up,' Jarvies said.
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