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.