A former Benton Harbor officer was arrested Monday morning on drug trafficking charges, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Grand Rapids.

The arrest of Andrew Thomas Collins, 26, comes with his indictment, which claims he used his position as an officer to keep the drugs. He is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine, according to a news release from Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Delaney, who will be prosecuting the case.

The charges stem from a case on Feb. 18 in which crack cocaine and other controlled substances allegedly were seized from Collins while he was serving as a narcotics officer for the Benton Harbor Police Department.

More than once, the attorney’s office states, Collins failed to report and give drugs that he’d seized to the police department. He’s accused of keeping the drugs for his own use or gain.

The indictment alleges that Collins also reported fictitious drug sales he made as an officer to improperly gain search warrants and embezzle funds from the police department.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ office in St. Joseph, with help from the Michigan State Police, the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office and the Benton Harbor Police Department.

A press conference will be held at 1 p.m. Monday.

Reporter John Paul was at that press conference and will have the latest information on WSBT News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.