Miami Officer Arrested, Charged with Protecting Drug Dealer

Twice earlier this month, Miami police officer Jose Maldonado-Dick, dressed in full uniform and carrying his weapon, spied on drug deals in a McDonald's parking lot, offering protection to a man he thought was a drug dealer as several kilos of cocaine exchanged hands, state prosecutors say.

For his services, Maldonado-Dick was paid a total of $1,900, the Miami Herald  reports.

What the officer didn't know: Miami police were watching him and secretly recording the deals.

Maldonado-Dick was arrested Wednesday after reporting to work. He's been charged with two counts of cocaine trafficking and two counts of being unlawfully rewarded while working as a cop.

No bond has been set for offenses that could mean up to a life sentence if he’s convicted.