An Opa-locka police captain has been arrested on charges he helped a violent drug-trafficking ring linked to a deadly Brink's robbery in Miramar last year, authorities said Thursday.

Capt. Arthur Balom, 44, of Miramar, is a "corrupt" cop who helped a "violent, multi-kilo drug-trafficking organization," said FBI Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies.

Balom is accused of assisting ring members carry out their illicit business, but officials declined to provide more details Thursday, citing a sealed indictment.

Balom was one of eight men indicted after a two-year, multi-agency investigation into the group's distribution of cocaine, Ecstacy and oxycodone.

It was unclear whether all were in custody on Thursday, but at least one –– Toriano "Slick" Johnson, 34, of Opa-locka – already was behind bars for his alleged role in the Miramar Brink's robbery.

Johnson served as a lookout during the Oct. 1, 2010, armored-truck heist outside a Bank of America branch, at 7950 Miramar Parkway in Miramar. One of Johnson's accomplices shot and killed Brink's employee Alejandro Nodarse Arencibia, 48, according to federal filings.

Johnson's criminal case is pending. Balom has not been named as a suspect in the Miramar robbery.

In addition to Balom and Johnson, the other six indicted in the Opa-locka drug ring were Terrence Johnson, 38, of Miramar; Dwayne Miller, 27, of Opa-locka, Jermaine Parrish, 29, of Miami; Antwan Davis, 29, of Miami; Lawrence Benbow, 35, of Miami Gardens; and Justin Jean, 27, of Opa-locka.

All face various counts of conspiracy to distribute and other drug charges, officials said. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 40 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said the effects of drug-trafficking "are even worse when … we find police officers, who are sworn to protect and serve our community, instead abuse the public trust and engage in drug trafficking to line their pockets."

On Thursday afternoon, Opa-locka city officials said they were waiting for an indictment to be unsealedto learn more about the ring's activities and Balom's alleged role.

Balom's alleged corruption is a "very serious matter" that should yield change in the police force, City Manager Bryan Finnie said.

"We have to look at our entire operations," Finnie said. "And we have to make sure something like this doesn't happen again."

Finnie said that the city cooperated during the inquiry, and investigators phoned him early Thursday to say Balom was being arrested. Authorities also converged on the police station to retrieve Balom's personnel files, Finnie said.

It was too early to say whether Balom would be suspended or fired, but the city is reviewing the matter, Finnie said.

Balom has been with Opa-locka police since February 1999. Before then, he worked for North Miami Beach Police Department for several months in the mid-1990s.

Balom owns a single-story, two-bedroom house valued at about $140,000 in eastern Miramar, Broward property records show.

It was unclear whether he had an attorney, and his relatives couldn't be reached for comment despite a message left at a listed number.

Balom and the other suspects' court appearances were scheduled Friday in federal court.

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If you think dirty cops is specific to Florida, you would be wrong.

innocent until proven guilty.














































































I keed!

Actually I don't but since we have been the center of attention lately I thought I would add to the title. No harm no foul. I love living here and haven't had any bad experiences with LEO yet. Even the ones at Markham are pretty friendly.

South Florida wins again!Lived in Miramar till the Jamaicans moved in and spray painted everything and stole anything not chained down!If this guy is dirty I hope he is put in Gen pop.