UPDATE: 3 Ga. police officers arrested on felony burglary charge in Al.

Phenix City, Ala. 

Officer Jennifer M. Bailey

Sgt. Rina C. Coy

Officer Jessica S. McIlrath

UPDATE: Full Story
On Wednesday ( Sept.7th) afternoon two Montezuma Police officers and an Oglethorpe Police officer were arrested in Phenix City, Ala.

Russell County Sheriff’s Office Detective Steve Johnson the three as identified Sgt. Rina C. Coy, 36, of Americus and Jennifer M. Bailey, 31, of Oglethorpe, members of the Montezuma Police Department. The Oglethorpe Police officer is Jessica S. McIlrath, 25, of Oglethorpe. Each is charged with one count of third-degree felony burglary and if convicted, face up to 10 years in federal prison.

Johnson said the trio is accused of entering a residence in rural southern Russell County on the Chattahoochee River, vandalizing the residence and stealing several items. He said the residence is the home of an ex-family member of one of the women. The crime was reported on Jan. 25, and after an extensive investigation, the three were arrested in Phenix City Tuesday afternoon, after having been interviewed in Montezuma. Johnson said one of the stolen items had been recovered.

Montezuma Police Chief Eric Finch said that Coy has been employed with his department for eight years where she worked her way to Patrol Supervisor and served as the department’s Domestic Violence Officer.   He said that Bailey has worked with the department for five years and served as the Gang Officer. He said both officers have been placed on administrative leave without pay pending an internal investigation.

Finch said, “Officers Coy and Bailey had excelled in their duties here at the Montezuma Police Department. Both officers were awarded Employee of the Year. However, the City of Montezuma, the Mayor and Council and the Montezuma Police Department does not tolerate this type of behavior and I pray that they can put this incident behind them and move on.”

Oglethorpe Police Chief Harrold Cannon said that McIllrath had worked for his department for a couple of years before and had just returned to the force about four months ago. The patrol officer was still in her probationary period, he said.

When asked about McIllrath’s future with the police department, Cannon said her employment will be terminated.

“When she’s involved in something like this, I have to report it to POST and it will probably pull her certification,” he said. “It breaks my heart that this has happened to them. A stupid mistake; it makes me sick.”