Fresno County Sheriff's Sergeant arrested for narcotics possession, public intoxication, police say

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- A sergeant with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office was found intoxicated in public with a controlled substance over the weekend, according to the Clovis Police Department.

52-year-old Thomas Grilione was arrested Sunday night for drunk disorderly conduct and possession of a controlled substance.

Witnesses say he was at Neighbors Tap & Cook House at Fowler and Nees in Clovis.

They say he was harassing customers and staff before an employee asked him to leave.

When he didn't, Clovis Police were called.

A witness took a cell phone video of him sitting outside with Clovis officers.

He calls the woman filming the video names while he sits and answers officers' questions.

Grilione was arrested for drunk disorderly conduct and being in possession of a controlled substance.

We don't know what that controlled substance was, but the arrest log does state it was a narcotic other than marijuana.

He was booked into jail and then cited and released on misdemeanor charges.

Grilione has been placed on administrative leave and an internal affairs investigation is underway.

Bruce Thomas, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sergeant with more than 30 years of experience says the criminal investigation will play a role in the internal investigation.

"One, if he's found guilty, then he's violated the criminal law and, ultimately, he's violated internal policies, such as being arrested for a crime," Thomas said. "So, he, ultimately, would lose his job."

If found guilty on all charges, Thomas says the district attorney's office or public defenders may call into question cases that he's handled as well as arrests and reports he's approved that led to prosecutions.

Thomas says if Grilione is found not guilty, he still may face punishment from the department.

"I know there are some things on the video of some rants and some ravings, once again, conduct unbecoming. He can look at days off, a suspension, which ultimately would be something that would happen," Thomas said.

Thomas says even though this is a veteran officer, and the public holds a high standard for him, it's too early to make judgment on the case.

"And there may be some other circumstances as to why he was in possession of these narcotics, why he was drunk. Ultimately, the department wants to work to help an employee get through whatever troubled times that they have, so we have to just kind of let it play out," Thomas said.

The Clovis Police Department is not saying what controlled substance Grilione had because they're waiting for lab testing.

The district attorney's office has not formally filed charges at this point.

Grilione is expected to be in court on August 22nd.

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