ETON, Ga. — An Eton city councilman arrested on drug charges will likely remain on the council pending the outcome of the charges.

Steve Shaw, 56, was arrested on Friday by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office and charged with felony counts of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act and use of a communication facility in a drug transaction. Detective Shannon Ramsey said officers had arranged a prescription drug sale to Shaw and he was arrested when he showed up and met with the officers.

Brenda J. Ann Flood, 24, of Chatsworth, who Ramsey said was in Shaw’s truck at the time of the arrest, was charged with two counts of felony party to a crime.

Eton Mayor Billy Cantrell didn’t immediately return phone calls seeking information on Shaw’s status with the council, but he released a statement Wednesday through the law offices of Dalton attorney Terry Miller, who serves as the city’s attorney.

“I and the remaining members of the Mayor and Council have read the public reports of the arrest of Steve Shaw,” Cantrell said in the statement. “The question of Steve’s present service on the governing authority pending the adjudication of the charges has been referred to the city attorney. The city will follow the terms of state law and its charter in responding to these events.”

Miller said the city charter that was adopted in 1987 does not address an arrest of an elected official and said the city will follow state law.

According to the Official Code of Georgia 45-5-6, an elected official can be removed by a special commission appointed by the governor but only after the elected official has been indicted.

Shaw, who was released from jail on a $2,000 bond on Sunday, declined to comment when contacted by a reporter on Monday. Chatsworth attorney Bill Keith, who is representing Shaw, said he didn’t expect Shaw to be indicted until the June term of the grand jury.

“We are investigating this matter and looking into it and looking at getting it resolved rather quickly,” Keith said. “(His service on the council) is another issue we are looking into and hope we can address shortly.”

Eton has City Council meetings on the second Tuesday of each month with the next meeting scheduled for April 11.

Shaw has been on the council since 2002.