A former Centre Police Officer has agreed to plead guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  Michael Kilgore, admitted in a federal plea agreement, that he worked with an unnamed co-conspirator back in January of 2023 – when he was a Police Officer in Centre – to “plant” both methamphetamine and other drugs inside a person’s car and then arrest them.  Kilgore stated that he contacted the unnamed co-conspirator and said he “wanted to make a narcotics case.”

The two then came up with a plan, according to court records and the co-conspirator put the drugs – including 1/8 ounce of methamphetamine, 5 Percocet pills and four or five grams of marijuana in a package, attaching it to the undercarriage of the target’s car with a magnet.  Kilgore told federal investigators he pulled the driver over, claiming she failed to maintain her lane and had an expired tag; he told the driver she appeared nervous and asked for permission to search her vehicle, which was granted, according to the plea agreement.

Reportedly after searching in the area located near the rear driver’s side tire – Kilgore recovered an item – that was the narcotics package planted by co-conspirator #1.  Both the driver and her passenger were arrested.  The plea agreement said Kilgore contacted the co-conspirator to arrange for another drug buy and plant enough to “rise to the level of trafficking.”

Kilgore was arrested on state charges in May of 2023, and was fired from the department.   That case is still pending.  He has a plea hearing in December.

Kilgore is also accused of violating that victims’ constitutional rights, in a federal civil lawsuit.

(WBRC News)