Dauphin Island · Crime & Safety

Dauphin Island public works cocaine case: May 2023 arrests

At a glance

The Dauphin Island public works cocaine case concerns arrests reported in May 2023 after drugs washed ashore on West End Beach. Local reporting attributed trafficking and evidence-tampering allegations to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. This is dated arrest coverage, not a new 2026 incident or a verified account of a conviction or current court disposition.

Editorially updated October 5, 2026. Evidence dates and record limits are stated separately.

Originally published 2026-09-04 · WorthFighting.org Editorial Team

The bridge connecting mainland Alabama to Dauphin Island, near where cocaine washed ashore and two public works employees were charged with trafficking — The Dauphin Island bridge connects the mainland to Alabama's barrier island. In 2023, two town public works employees were charged with cocaine trafficking after drugs washed ashore on the West End Beach. — Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons

What was reported in May 2023?

Local reporting described the arrests of public works employees Robert Manuel Butler and Dean Lewis Hazard after cocaine washed ashore on West End Beach. The reports attributed to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office allegations that the employees retained some of the drugs instead of reporting the discovery.

Allegations and later case status

The coverage concerns reported trafficking and evidence-tampering charges. It does not establish a conviction. This editorial review did not establish a later court disposition or current custody or employment status. The May 2023 incident must not be presented as a new October 2026 arrest.

What record would establish an outcome?

A dated court order or docket entry would be needed to establish dismissal, plea, trial result or sentence. An old booking report is insufficient. The original NBC 15 report and the other source links preserve the basis of this historical coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did this happen in 2026?

The reported arrests date to May 2023. The page publication and editorial-update dates are separate.

Does an arrest mean the defendants were convicted?

No. This page does not establish a later case outcome.

Related Dauphin Island guides

Updated October 5, 2026. Source dates and unresolved questions are identified above.