An Alabama Police Officer Wanted More Drug Arrests. So He Planted Drugs on Innocent Drivers, Prosecutors Say.

A former police officer in Alabama has agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge in connection with a scheme to plant drugs on innocent motorists in order to manufacture drug arrests, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama announced.

Former Centre Police Department officer Michael Kilgore, 40, was charged with one count conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine.

According to the plea agreement, the conspiracy began in January 2023 when Kilgore stopped a motorist and found drugs.

He offered the motorist a chance to avoid charges by working for him. The motorist agreed, and became a co-conspirator.

Kilgore and his co-conspirator then arranged for a package of methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana to be attached to the undercarriage of a certain vehicle.

Kilgore then performed a "sham" traffic stop of the vehicle and "discovered" the drugs where he knew it had been planted.

The driver and passenger were detained for drug possession.

Kilgore planned to repeat the scheme on another vehicle, but after buying the drugs to be planted, Kilgore's co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to police.

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The court has not yet set a date to formally enter Kilgore's guilty plea, or a date for sentencing.

TMX contributed to this report.