CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — The commander of the 2nd Infantry Division’s 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team has been suspended in the midst of an 8th Army investigation.

Col. Robert M. Roth was suspended Sept. 24, an 8th Army spokesman confirmed Thursday after a Stars and Stripes query.

"The investigation arises from events that allegedly occurred prior to the officer’s assumption of command," wrote 8th Army spokesman Lt. Col. Jeffrey Buczkowski in an e-mail response.

Before taking over 1st Brigade, Roth served as chief of the future operations division for U.S. Forces Korea at Yongsan Garrison.

Eighth Army officials did not say what the investigation was about, citing a policy of not commenting on details of ongoing investigations. Roth’s removal came in the midst of a battle command seminar and preparations for a division-wide electronic battle simulation.

Attempts to reach the colonel through military spokesmen this week were unsuccessful.

First Brigade includes five battalions and a cavalry squadron. Most of the soldiers stationed at Camp Casey in Dongducheon belong to the brigade.

Lt. Col. Richard Creed, commander of the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, has temporarily assumed command of the brigade, according to 8th Army. Roth took over as 1st Brigade commander on June 27.

Roth graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 1985, commissioned as an armor officer. Roth has deployed to Iraq twice since 2003 and also participated in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.