MARION COUNTY — A 29-year-old former Centralia police officer has been released from the Marion County Jail after posting $500 cash bond on a Class 4 felony charge of possessing a controlled substance.

Micah Sensel was arrested Monday afternoon after a report from the Illinois State Police resulted in Judge Mark Stedelin issuing a warrant for his arrest.

The report claims that while at a training event on May 20, Sensel was seen by a fellow officer to be acting in an impaired manner and was reportedly taken to a Mt. Vernon hospital for treatment.

When the other officer returned the squad car they had been traveling in to the Centralia Police Department, investigators reportedly searched Sensel’s backpack and discovered morphine.

On May 21, Police Chief Brian Atchison notified Sensel in writing of his suspension “pending an administrative review.” Sensel ultimately resigned from the department on June 16.

According to the suspension notice, Sensel was considered on duty while attending an Emergency Vehicle Operations Training in Carbondale. It also informed Sensel that a criminal investigation had been turned over to the Illinois State Police and it would run parallel to the CPD administrative investigation.

Sensel served on the Centralia police force for just over two years at the time of the alleged incident. He’s been sent a notice to appear in Marion County court on September 23.