Norfolk police officer arrested

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A Norfolk police officer was arrested Wednesday after she allegedly entered the city jail under false pretenses to meet with a prisoner and give her a cell phone.

Sources tell WAVY.com Officer Sharron Paige allegedly told deputies at the jail that she was investigating a case and needed a prisoner brought down for an interview.  However, The Norfolk Police Department says Officer Paige is actually on in-active status due to a military commitment.  Officer Paige has not worked as a police officer on the streets of Norfolk since 2008, according to police. In fact, they say she has only worked as a Norfolk officer for a total of 60 days in the last seven years because of her service in the army.

Police say officer Paige, while still technically employed by the NPD, was not investigating any case.

Sources say the prisoner she went to meet was Tammy Futrell , the director of a church daycare, who is charged with homicide in the death of a 7-week-old baby at her daycare.

The baby's mother, Betsy Cummings, said she was astonished to hear about the arrest of the Norfolk officer.  "Why would you lie and say that you're investigating?  I don't know. I don't understand it."

Paige surrendered at the Police Operations Center at approximately 4:20pm Wednesday.

Paige was called to Active Duty with the U.S. Army in 2003 and has remained on Active Duty Reserve Status with the Army since that time.  Paige joined the Department in 1992.