TV producer busted on drug charges By Terry Oparka TROY — An award-winning cable television producer for the Royal Oak local public access channel faces seven years in jail and possible forfeiture of his home and other assets after police arrested him on multiple drug charges. An undercover officer of the Warren Police Special Investigations Division purchased marijuana at the Troy home of the suspect on three different occasions, said Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer. After completing the final transaction Aug. 4 at the suspect’s home at 2781 English in Troy, in the Long Lake and Dequindre area, Warren police, with assistance from the Troy Police Department, executed a warrant authorized by 37th District Court Judge Jennifer Faunce. Warren and Troy police recovered additional marijuana packaged to sell and marijuana intended for personal use inside the home, police said. The suspect’s wife was also in the home at the time of the arrest, Dwyer said. But she has not been charged. Gregory Walter, 48, was arraigned in 41-A District Court on three counts of delivery of marijuana under 5 kilos, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison; one count of possession with intent to deliver under 5 kilos of marijuana, which also carries a seven-year prison term; and one count of possession of marijuana and one count of maintaining a drug house, both which carry a maximum one-year prison term. Bond was set at $45,000 cash/surety. The preliminary exam is set for Aug. 19 in 41-A District Court. During the course of the investigation, Warren police discovered that Walter is employed as the communication/cable director/producer by the Camco Corporation, which is subcontracted by the city of Royal Oak. He has been employed with Camco for approximately 14 years, police said. Walter is listed on the city of Royal Oak municipal Web site as an award-winning cable television producer for WROK, the government access cable TV station that serves Royal Oak. However, Walter is not a Royal Oak city employee, said Royal Oak City Manager Tom Hoover. “He is an employee of a contractural firm, Camco Corporation, that the city utilizes to operate its Government TV Channel WROK,” Hoover said in a statement. “He is not a Royal Oak city official.” Dwyer said that police would seek assistance of the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Forfeiture Unit to determine if Walter’s home and other assets are available for forfeiture. You can reach Staff Writer Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1054. |
