Va. Chief Arrested In Prescription Drug Case

Federal agents arrested the Marion (Va.) Police chief Wednesday morning and charged him for distributing the prescription painkiller Lortab, the FBI announced.

Michael "Fireball" Roberts, 54, faces one count of distributing a controlled substance because Lortab contains the Schedule III narcotic hydrocodone.

Roberts allegedly gave pills to an informant and was recorded on video crushing one up and snorting it, according the criminal complaint.

The city terminated Roberts on Wednesday. He has served as the Marion PD's chief since July 1, 2000. The department hired him as a patrolman in 1986, reports WDBJ .

The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Virginia State Police; and the Washington County Sheriff's Office.