A Columbus police officer questioned for suspected criminal activity last week in West Point has been with the force for only 16 days.
Multiple Columbus city sources confirmed Officer Antjuan Jethrow was questioned last week by West Point police on suspicion of soliciting a minor.
Columbus hired Jethrow as a patrolman on April 2, according to Human Resources records.
The city issued a press release Friday afternoon stating Police Chief Fred Shelton had placed an officer on administrative leave, without pay, for conduct in West Point while the officer was off-duty. That release, however, did not include the officer’s identity or the nature of the conduct.
Columbus City Council is slated to consider formal discipline for the officer during executive session of its meeting Tuesday evening, the release said.
Shelton said in the press release, and has since repeated directly to The Dispatch, that West Point Police Department is conducting the investigation. CPD is not involved in the investigation, he said, other than “fully cooperating” with WPPD.
Because it’s a personnel matter, Shelton said, he would not comment on specifics of the alleged incident.
West Point Police Chief Avery Cook did not return multiple calls and messages from The Dispatch since Friday evening.
Assistant Chief Kennedy Meaders, with WPPD, said the department would not comment on specifics of the ongoing investigation.
Jethrow was never booked in Clay County Jail, according to its records.
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