Oakdale Police officer accused of planting drugs and demanding sex
OAKDALE, La. (KPLC) - An Oakdale Police Department officer has been arrested after detectives accused him of attempting to plant drugs on an unsuspecting person and trying to coerce a victim into sexual activity, state police say.
Jalen Melbert, 33, of Oakdale, was arrested Monday afternoon and booked into the Allen Parish Jail on charges of abuse of office and malfeasance in office, according to Louisiana State Police.

LSP began investigating Melbert on Aug. 19.
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 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.
“We take all allegations of misconduct seriously, and the alleged actions do not reflect the standards we expect of our officers,” Johnson said. “Maintaining the integrity of our department and the trust of the community we serve remains a top priority.”
The investigation is ongoing, and state police say additional charges may be filed.
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