Snared in a drug sting, Yavapai Co. sheriff's deputy has dark Neo-Nazi past

Veronica Sanchez
12 News
May. 25, 2007

A sheriff's deputy arrested in a drug sting has a dark past as a Neo-Nazi.

12 News has learned that Yavapai County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Dwyer was not only a member, but also a former leader with the Aryan Nation in Washington State.

Deputy Justin Dwyer was arrested for trying to buy cocaine, and accused of sending his 15-year old son to a drug dealer to score the drug. It turns out he's also a former Aryan Nation leader, 12 News reports.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, back in the 1990's Dwyer acted as the Washington state leader for the Aryan Nation led by President Richard Butler. Dwyer also distributed racist fliers in Washington after leading the group over differences with leaders, 12 News reports..

He rejoined the white supremacist group in 1994, four years before he was hired in Yavapai County, 12 News reports.

A spokesman from the Yavapai County Sheriff Dept. says Dwyer was hired by the former sheriff George “Buck” Buchanan and that he knew about Dwyer’s past.

In a statement, Buchanan denies it, saying “I had no personal knowledge ever that Mr. Dwyer was associated with the Aryan Nation or other association or he would not have been hired."