Not just drugs of many colors, but guns and money also appear to be missing from the Asheville Police Department’s evidence room. The preliminary assertion was based on a partial audit. Some items reportedly missing were recovered elsewhere in the evidence room. Confusion arose largely due to the melding of a new inventory system with the old. Some items were stored the old way, some the new, and some fell through the cracks. It is assumed that (Ahem!) like Saddam Hussein and his WMD’s, those controlling the evidence room simply did not account for the legitimate destruction of items.
A full audit is underway, but that means a lot of the innocent-until-proven-guilty will be let off easily. For example, one who was looking at 225 months in a federal case had to settle for parole.
Investigations into the city Police Department’s handling of evidence have forced the release on bond of at least four men charged with violent crimes, including one arrested in a 2001 rape case. Dozens of other defendants could still be released as a result of the sealing of the department’s evidence room.
On the bright side, the APD is accredited, and that usually means, “You can get away with anything as long as you document it.” Furthermore, it is hoped that the APD will continue to look for grant funds to get sworn officers to play with kids to build community relations and acquire cool, high-tech wizmo-gizmos from the Department of Homeland Security.
