LARNED – A deputy with the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office is under investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the KBI confirmed Friday afternoon.

“The KBI is investigating allegations of wrongdoing by an employee of the Pawnee County Sheriff’s office,” an agency statement reads. “We were asked by Sheriff Scott King and Undersheriff Derek Slack on Dec. 6, 2017, to investigate the matter. The investigation is ongoing.”

According to KBI spokesperson Melissa Underwood, investigators will not issue a news release while an investigation is ongoing. “If the investigation leads to an arrest or charges are filed, we will at that time. The individual’s name and nature of the charges would be released at that time also.”

The PCSO is referring all questions to the KBI. There was no statement as to whether or not the deputy involved was still on the job or had been suspended.

Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett said should there be charges, the case would be referred to Ellis County Attorney Thomas Drees for prosecution. 

The KBI and Drees were called in to handle the case since it involved an employee of the county, McNett said. This was done to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

McNett referred all other questions to the KBI.