HOUSTON -- A rookie Houston police officer was arrested on charges of selling large quantities of marijuana during her off-hours, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Internal Affairs Division and SWAT officers arrested Officer Traci Tennarse, 29, on Wednesday night in a room at La Quinta on Interstate 10 East at Federal Road. She's charged with felony delivery of marijuana and will face a judge on Friday.

Investigators told KPRC Local 2 that some street-level dope users were arrested recently and they said the officer had been selling pot in her off-hours.

Assistant District Attorney Anna Emmons said, "We know she had been doing this for a while."

Undercover HPD Internal Affairs Proactive Unit officers met with her after she got off duty.

In court papers, they accuse her of taking cash and then delivering two bundles of marijuana during an undercover sting that was organized Wednesday night.

"The confidential informant gave Officer Tennarse $17,000 in buy money and asked for 50 pounds of marijuana," Emmons said.

She's accused of taking the money to her boyfriend with whom she was living.

Prosecutors describe him as a habitual felon with a rap sheet that includes drugs, auto theft, assault and other convictions.

Houston Police Department rules, known as General Orders, prohibit officers from associating with convicted criminals, much less living with them.

The boyfriend, Clarence Davis, 48, of Spring, was tailed by undercover police as he took the money and went to another location to buy the 50 pounds of pot, according to authorities.

He then re-connected with the officer and another female to bring the drugs to the eastside motel room to complete the deal.

SWAT moved in and arrested all three and confiscated the pot. The pot was picked up in a car that was rented by the officer, according to police.

Officer Tennarse, who lives in Spring, could get two to 20 years in prison if convicted.

She joined the force in June 2006, working in the Identification Section, a desk job at HPD.

Davis faces life in prison if he's found guilty, due to his rap sheet.

The other woman, Shanqua Jackson, 19, is also charged with delivery.