Drug Theft Charges Spur Policy Change

SHERIFF'S OFFICE ACTS TO PROTECT STORED EVIDENCE

TAMPA - In the wake of a former deputy's arrest, the Hillsborough County
Sheriff's Office has changed its drug evidence policies.

Christopher Madiedo turned himself in Wednesday morning on a new round of
charges and was released from jail about noon on $25,000 bail. The former
deputy now faces 23 felony and six misdemeanor charges alleging he took
drugs from the evidence room.

During the past four years, Madiedo signed out 63 envelopes of drug
evidence, saying he needed them for court, said sheriff's spokesman Rod
Reder. In 20 of the envelopes the drugs had been removed. Some of the cases
were his, but he had no role in others.

Deputies will have to present a subpoena showing the case number to check
out drugs. Deputies will be allowed to check out drugs on the day of court
only and will have to return them that day. When returned, drugs will be
weighed and tested.

Authorities said Madiedo, 26, began taking the cocaine and marijuana in
November 1997, a year and a half after he became a deputy, and continued
until his resignation in June. He replaced cocaine with soap powder,
marijuana with twigs and leaves and crack cocaine with wax, Reder said.

The thefts were discovered after Madiedo was arrested July 1, the day after
he resigned. Authorities said that hours after he quit, Madiedo returned to
the office dressed as a deputy and signed out several envelopes of crack,
powder cocaine and marijuana. Madiedo was arrested when he tried to return
the envelopes filled with wax, soap powder and twigs and leaves.

He was charged with drug possession, impersonating a law enforcement
officer and having a gun. Madiedo was out of jail on $3,000 bail when
prosecutors filed the 23 charges Tuesday.

Prosecutors are reviewing the viability of criminal cases in which Madiedo
is a witness or cases in which he checked out drugs.

In his five years as a deputy, Madiedo was suspended three times: in 1997
for failing to appear for a subpoena, in 1998 after he shot a man in the
buttock after a traffic stop, and in May as a result of a south Tampa bar
fight.

In April 2000, Madiedo said he was shot while patrolling near the
University of South Florida but escaped serious injury because he was
wearing a protective vest.