A federal grand jury has indicted two police officers, one from Lansford and one formerly from Coaldale, for allegedly planting narcotics during drug searches last year. Additionally, two former police chiefs from those departments have been indicted on a charge of a separate incident involving the alleged sale of a machine gun.

In the drug case, Lansford officer Jeremy K. Sommers, 28, and former Coaldale officer Michael R. Weaver, 35, have been charged with conspiracy to violate civil rights, obstructing an investigation and obstructing and lying to federal agents.In the weapons case, Lansford Police Chief Joseph Stawiarski, 47, has been charged with aiding and abetting the illegal possession of the machine gun and lying to investigators, while Coaldale Chief Shawn P. Nihen, 32, is charged with illegal firearms possession.