Contra Costa Sheriff's Deputy, a Danville Officer, Arrested in County Drug Task Force Probe

The investigation into the state-run Contra Costa County drug task force has resulted in another law enforcement officer being arrested: a Danville police officer and deputy sheriff with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.

Stephen Tanabe, 47, of Alamo was arrested late Friday on suspicion of possessing and selling controlled substances, sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said. Tanabe was arrested after investigators discovered he might have been keeping and selling drugs, Lee said in a press release. 

The Contra Costa Times reports that Tanabe was an officer with the Danville police force. Danville contracts for police services from the sheriff's department.

However, a state Department of Justice spokesman told the Times that Tanabe was not a member of the Central Contra Costa County Narcotic Enforcement Team. 

The team has come of Norman Wielsch, the task force's commander, and Christopher Butler, a Concord-based private investigator and former Antioch police officer. Wielsch and Butler, both 49, were friends and had worked together as officers in Antioch. A 28-count criminal complaint alleged both men stole drugs from evidence lockers and that Butler would sell them.

The charges against Wielsch and Butler include: conspiracy; selling methamphetamine, marijuana and steroids; and possessing methamphetamine, marijuana and steroids for sale.

The state Justice Department declined to comment on the allegations against Tanabe or explain what if any connection he had to the task force or to Wielsch or Butler, according to the Times. 

Tanabe, who had been with the sheriff's office for four years, faces charges of conspiracy to possess and sell controlled substances, and possession and transfer of an assault rifle, according to Lee.

Although he was not a member of the drug task force, his arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into the task force's operations, according to Lee. 

"The arrest of Tanabe is a sad day for the office of the sheriff but should not reflect on the integrity or professionalism of the nearly 1,000 other members of the office," Sheriff David Livingston said in a statement.

Tanabe was placed on administrative leave, and he is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility with a bail of $260,000, according to the sheriff's office.

Update: Tanabe posted bail Saturday night, according to news reports.

— Bay City News contributed to this report.