Pubdate: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 Source: The Macon Telegraph (GA) Copyright: 2000 The Macon Telegraph Contact: editpage@mto.infi.net Address: Letters, P.O. Box 4167, Macon, GA 31208-4167 Fax: (912) 744-4385 Website: http://www.macontelegraph.com/ Author: Christopher Schwarzen The Macon Telegraph MONEY, POT MISSING FROM POLICE OFFICE The Macon Police Department is investigating the possible criminal disappearance of evidence at one of its offices. Police Chief John Vasquez reported Friday that a departmental and criminal investigation were started about two weeks ago after a "small bag of marijuana and about $500" disappeared from an office of the Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Vasquez said departmental policy had been broken by at least one police officer by not securing the drugs and money confiscated during an incident Jan. 7 that resulted in the arrest of two men on charges of misdemeanor drug possession and misdemeanor commercial gambling. Charges against both men had to be dropped for lack of evidence. About a dozen officers and civilian employees have or will be questioned in connection with the missing evidence, Vasquez said. It has not been determined whether the evidence was misplaced or stolen. "We have determined there was no break-in at the site," Vasquez said. "But it's possible someone that shouldn't have been admitted to the building was let in." Regardless of what happened, the officers in charge of securing the marijuana and cash broke departmental policy. Vasquez said that, following the arrest, instead of processing the evidence, the officers left when additional help was requested in the search for two homicide suspects that night. When the officers returned to the office, the evidence that had been left out was gone. "I don't know where they left it," he said. "I applaud them for helping with the homicide, but (missing evidence) is still a critical issue." Vasquez did not say how long the investigation would continue, but said reprimands could follow for breaking departmental policy. "And if there are criminal problems, those will be dealt with also," he said. To contact Christopher Schwarzen, call 744-4213 or e-mail cschwarzen@macontel.com.
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