A Lake Providence police officer accused of taking $50 from a driver instead of issuing a citation was free on bond this morning.

Clinton Reed, 51, of Lake Providence, was charged with one count of malfeasance in office, according to a statement by Albert Paxton, spokesman for the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations

“An Arkansas resident advised investigators that he was traveling through Lake Providence and was stopped by a Lake Providence police officer for speeding,” Paxton said in the statement. “The Arkansas resident advised investigators that the Lake Providence police officer requested $50 from the driver in lieu of issuing a citation.”

Following a joint investigation conducted by the LSPBI, East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Providence Police Department, Reed was arrested Monday.

Reed confessed to investigators during the questioning that he took $50 instead of issuing the citation, according to the statement.

He faces up to a $5,000 fine and five years in prison if convicted.

Reed posted $5,000 bail Tuesday and was released from River Bend Detention Center.