On March 31, it was reported that an Indiana police officer who supervised the Columbus Police Department’s narcotics division was charged with drug, misconduct and theft offenses. The 38-year-old male was taken into custody on March 30 following an investigation that began after evidence was found missing in October 2015.
The officer was accused of removing drugs from the evidence room while he was acting as supervisor. Investigators claimed that he did not return some of the items that he signed out and even replaced missing items with different items. Additionally, he was also accused of being in possession of drugs that were outside of his duties. He ultimately resigned in October after acting as supervisor for nearly four years.
He was charged with multiple drug offenses including possession of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and a controlled substance, among others. Additionally, he was facing charges for both misdemeanor and felony theft and misconduct. He posted 10 percent of his bail and was scheduled to return to court in May.
People who have been handed drug or other felony charges could potentially face serious consequences if a conviction is obtained that could include incarceration, high fines and a loss of their job. As a result, having the immediate representation of legal counsel can often be advisable. When the charges are based upon a search of the defendant’s home or car, a criminal defense attorney could challenge the search and resulting seizure on the basis of a lack of probable cause, rendering the evidence inadmissible if successful.