A pastor in Fountain Hills has been arrested, accused of selling drugs to people in the community and possibly at the church.
Mark Derkson is a pastor at church in Fountain Hills.
Deputies are not sure if he was selling drugs out of the church -- but they say he was selling plenty of it out of his apartment.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says they were tracking this guy for 2 years but never had the proof he was dealing.
Tuesday, sheriff deputies were tipped off that he might be dealing drugs out of his Fountain Hills apartment. Sheriff's deputies went undercover and were able to purchase drugs.
Derkson's apartment was packed with all varieties of drugs, even weapons, according to MCSO.
He apparently would tell his drug buyers that using the drugs would be a religious experience.
"He brought the drugs and gave them to his people and said it would bring them closer to God, that type of thing," said Sheriff Joe Arpaio. "The pastor himself indicates 30 people a day went to his apartment and purchased drugs."
Sheriff Arpaio also said they are investigating some of the drug buyers. More arrests could be coming.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:23:53 GMT
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A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
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After Assemblyman Vito Lopez resigned over claims of serial sexual harassment of female staffers, attention turned to whether powerful Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver should continue his leadership.
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