LINDEN — A candidate for Linden City Council was arrested late last week and faces misdemeanor drug charges.

Richard Lankster, 54, of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Linden who is running for the District 3 council seat, was arrested by a Linden police officer who was working security for the 12 Link Dinner on 12 Link Road between Demopolis and Linden.

Police Chief Scott McClure said Lankster was in possession of what appeared to be a crack pipe when officer Dexter Waters arrested him.

Waters was working security at the private event — along with a couple of Marengo County deputies.

“We haven’t done an analysis on the paraphernalia, but we know what it appears to be,” McClure said.

The arrest happened around 10:15 p.m. Aug. 8.

Lankster was taken to the Marengo County Jail, where he posted bond the following morning.

The charge is a misdemeanor.

McClure said the arrest would stand even though it was made in the county and not inside the city limits.

“One of the things that people need to understand is that a police officer is a police officer,” McClure said. “The arresting officer was a city officer, but the case will be tried in county court.”