The room, which is 14,000 square feet, is holding approximately 15,000 pieces of evidence, 46 percent of capacity, according to the Houston Police Department. October 20, 2016 HOUSTON - Interim Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo could not provide a time estimate on Thursday of how long it would take to assess how much evidence was contaminated, i...

A judge ordered Johnson County last month to pay Helen McCommas $20,169.52 for seven firearms and about 10,000 rounds of ammunition that either disappeared or were destroyed after sheriff's officers seized them in 2013. October 12, 2016 CLEBURNE Issues at the Johnson County Sheriff's Department, which is under investigation by the Texas Rangers, le...

Hess ended up destroying nearly 8,000 items. Of those items, 861 were traced back to 470 open cases, 183 of which have been determined to be drug-related cases, according to a newsrelease by the constable's office. Enter Article DATE HERE Harris County The Harris County Precinct 4 constable's office has fired a deputy on the heels of allegatio...

An audit on July 15, 2016 reported more than 2000 property items noted in databases could not be found on property room shelves. An exhaustive effort to clean up that room has whittled the number to fewer than 500.Precinct 2 management is convinced none of them are related to active criminal cases. Leadership blames the errors on a lack of proper p...

Evidence-keeping sloppy in 4 of 8 constable's offices September 25, 2016 With Harris County's Precinct 4 Constable's Office mired in scandal over the improper destruction of 21,000 pieces of evidence, serious evidence cataloging and control problems also have been uncovered in the constables' offices in Precincts 3,6 and 7, according to interviews ...

The video, security camera footage from the police department, does show him take items from a locker, thought from what we're told, it's a personal locker, not an evidence locker. September 6, 2016 DRISCOLL - KRIS 6 News has obtained exclusive video that sheds more light on a former police chief accused of stealing drugs from an evidence locker. E...

Defendant in evidence destruction scandal sues Harris County By St. John Barned-Smith Updated 11:01 am, Wednesday, September 7, 2016 20 Photo: Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of 5 Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson arrives for a media conference to discuss the thousands of pieces of evidence that were destroyed by Harris ...

More than 1,000 cases pending, DA says September 02, 2016 HOUSTON - About 21,500 pieces of evidence were discarded by a deputy constable earlier this year, according to Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson. The evidence was collected from 2007 to present. More News Headlines 90 cases dismissed by DA's Office after evidence mistakenly thro...

According to investigators, the evidence was thrown out by a single deputy working in the property room after a general house-cleaning was  ordered last January. The deputy, a 14-year veteran, was fired for not following proper policies and procedures.​ September 01, 2016 HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - The Harris County Attorney confirms, in a letter ...

A New Mexico police sergeant accused of unwittingly recording himself on a lapel camera taking marijuana from his office and giving it to his girlfriend has been released from jail. August 28, 2016 GRANTS, N.M. — A New Mexico police sergeant accused of unwittingly recording himself on a lapel camera taking marijuana from his office and giving it to...

According to Herman he immediately fired the deputy who had worked in the evidence room for 14 years. The deputy had no charges filed against him. 08/27 2016 TYLER, Texas (KTRK)- The Harris County District Attorney's office has dismissed 90 drug cases after a Precinct 4 deputy constable threw away evidence connected to pending cases. Constable Mark...

In any case, sounds like these defendants lucked out. August 25, 20 Thanks to the error of one Harris County Precinct 4 deputy, an untold number of accused drug offenders might be off the hook. In January, Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said his office discovered that the deputy, whom Herman did not name, accidentally threw away a large amount of...

In the audit, Keller said, his staff found 80 different policies and procedures on sexual assault investigations in the state's 130 police agencies. August 19, 2016 he New Mexican ALBUQUERQUE — State Auditor Tim Keller on Thursday told a panel of lawmakers that officers' discretion and the lack of structured policies on sexual assault investigation...

The Harris County District Attorney's Office has thrown out a drug case after an employee discarded crucial evidence. August 18, 2016 HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Harris County District Attorney's Office has thrown out a drug case after an employee discarded crucial evidence. David Bellamy, 40, was arrested in June 2015 on drug charges. This April, prosec...

City and police officials argued during the hearing that Jefferson checked out an unknown amount of marijuana from the evidence room on Sept. 3, 2009, and never returned it. They could find no record or person to validate Jefferson's claim that it was returned. August 5, 2016 A former Abilene police officer accused of taking marijuana out of eviden...

In June, the Texas Forensic Science Commission told the department its audit had found that untrained staff and improper testing procedures raised concerns about the scientific validity of the lab's DNA test results. July 30, 2016 More than a month after the Austin Police Department was forced to abruptly shut down its DNA testing lab, it remains u...

A probable cause affidavit says that officer Ronald Scott Gibbons, 47, is accused of taking almost $2,000 from envelopes in the department's evidence safe. Jul 29, 2016 NORMAN, Okla. —A University of Oklahoma police officer has been accused of embezzling money from the university's police department. A probable cause affidavit says that officer Ron...

Currently, there are more than 5,000 untested rape kits New Mexico. Rape kits contain evidence collected during investigations of sexual assault that helps determine if criminal charges are warranted. July 27, 2016 LAS CRUCES - A fundraiser to empower victims of sexual assault to become advocates, and to raise money to help pay for a backlog of unt...

The sexual assault task force's goal is to process the untested kits and ensure no future kits get backlogged. July 22, 2016 MISSOULA, Mont. - Over 10 bipartisan agencies from across the state gathered to figure out what to do with the over 1,400 untested sexual assault kits in Montana. Friday's meeting started with a tour of the state crime lab fa...

A former South Texas police officer has been convicted on federal drug charges for stealing cocaine and then staging a fake bust to cover up the theft. July 14, 2016 MCALLEN, Texas A former South Texas police officer has been convicted on federal drug charges for stealing cocaine and then staging a fake bust to cover up the theft.  A jury on T...

He is accused of tampering with evidence and violating department policy. Jul 07 2016 ABILENE, Texas - The appeal hearing for a former Abilene police officer accused of stealing marijuana from the department's evidence room ended Thursday afternoon at Abilene City Hall. Arthur Jefferson worked for the department for 12 years before he was terminate...

Former Sullivan City police Chief Miguel Martinez didn't just watch a patrolman pocket marijuana last year -- he personally handled alcohol later mixed with the drugs, according to a Texas Rangers report. July 1, 2016 Former Sullivan City police Chief Miguel Martinez didn't just watch a patrolman pocket marijuana last year -- he personally handled ...

"We're removing the subjectivity from the decision-making process." Mary Roberts, Phoenix police assistance chief July 1, 2016 The policy change comes amid mounting pressure from victims' rights advocates, who say uniform testing may lead police to serial assailants. After the kits are tested, the DNA will be entered into the FBI's Combined DNA Ind...

The latest count of untested kits reveals Maricopa County alone has at least 4,000. June 21, 2016 PHOENIX — Law enforcement agencies across Arizona are sifting through evidence lockers looking for every last untested sexual assault kit under new efforts driven largely by Gov. Doug Ducey. It's part of a push across the country to cut the backlog of ...

Mike Cantu's been the chief for a year and a half. He previously served as a Corpus Christi City Marshall for several years.When reached late Monday afternoon, Cantu said the allegations are false. Jun 20, 2016 DRISCOLL - The Chief of Police in Driscoll is on administrative leave after being accused of taking drugs from an evidence locker at the de...

On May 21, 2015, Sullivan City Police Chief Miguel Martinez saw de la Mora take handfuls of marijuana from the department's evidence room and did not stop the officer. Texas Rangers investigated the incident and Martinez and de la Mora were indicted January 27, 2016. Enter Article DATE HERE In exchange for pleading guilty, a former Sullivan Ci...

The charges against the former chief are in connection with a report in 2015 that officer Angel De La Mora had taken home remnants of marijuana from inside the department's evidence room. Jun 8, 2016 EDINBURG — Barring any last minute plea deals, a former Sullivan City police chief will take his case to a jury in less than two weeks after a hearing...

Ex-Lake Havasu City cop accused of stealing drugs, cash from evidence room May 29, 2016 Buried inside the Lake Havasu City Police Department evidence room are tens of thousands of crime remnants, and only a handful of people have access to them. There are guns from homicides, drugs confiscated during raids, money acquired from investigations and an...

Enter Headline here May 31st 2016 CARSON CITY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — The Nevada Attorney General's "Sexual Assault Kit Working Group" expects to receive tests results from local jurisdictions on the state's backlog of sexual assault kits by the end of June. Spokeswoman Monica Moazez tells News 4-Fox 11 that Attorney General Adam Laxalt annou...

June 1st 2016, 9:45 am PDT PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK) - A man accused of stabbing and killing an elderly woman in 1982 has been arrested after DNA samples and fingerprints connected him to the crime, police said. Larry Robinson, 56, was taken into custody on Tuesday. During an interview with Phoenix police detectives, Robinson couldn't explain why his DNA...

Silver City Daily Press, scdailypress.comBYLINE: Stewart McClintic, City, NMPotentially hundreds of convictions could be overturned after an audit of the Region VII Drug Task Force, based in Deming...

WFAA-TV, wfaa.comBYLINE: Brett Shipp, WFAAEllis County, TXSources say Lt. Phillip Slaughter abruptly resigned late last month. What followed shocked his co-workers.Phillip Slaughter (Photo: Courtesy - Ellis County Sheriff's D...

Associated Press, CBS 4 (KGBT-TV), valleycentral.comBYLINE: Dave HendricksSullivan City, TXSullivan City police Chief Miguel Martinez4:35 p.m. Update: Sullivan City police Chief Miguel Martinez took a "leave of absence" Tuesd...

The Daily Times, daily-times.comBYLINE: Steve Garrison, , NM>(Photo: Courtesy of San Juan County Adult Detention Center)FARMINGTON — Ashley Goodvoyce, the 28-year-old former Farmington poli...

News 9, news9.comBYLINE: Adrianna Iwasinski, News 9Two VideosMidwest City, OKA former MWC Police officer is accused of pawning stolen items including equipment belonging to the Midwest City Police Department.MIDWEST CITY, Okl...

The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com, Associated PressLink to ArticleMesa, AZPHOENIX (AP) — A Gilbert man is in custody after being linked to a burglary by glasses left at the scene.Mesa police say DNA extracted fro...

The Arizona Republic, azcentral.comBYLINE: Nathan Gonzalez - The Arizona RepublicLink to ArticleMesa, AZPolice face lack of storage room for items key to criminal casesEvidence supervisor Lane Darling pulls out an old rifle i...

Arizona Daily Wildcat, wildcat.arizona.eduBYLINE: Lucy ValenciaLink to ArticleTuscon, AZAn envelope, taped and marked, is used as an example for Officers when the submit evidence to the UA Police Department. Items are careful...

NewsOK, newsok.comBYLINE: RON JACKSON, Oklahoman Link to ArticleCuster County, OKKey piece of evidence surfaces after former Custer County sheriffs trial involving the rape of female inmates.ARAPAHO — A flashlight allegedly u...

Tulsa World, tulsaworld.comBYLINE: OMER GILLHAM, World Staff WriterLink to ArticleTulsa, OKGrand jury investigates police corruption: Read all of the stories, view a timeline and read key documents.Interim Tulsa Police Chief ...

The Oklahoman, City Edition, NEWS METRO/STATE NORTH; Pg. 21ABYLINE: ANN KELLEY, Staff WriterMcLoud, OKMcLOUD - A police dispatcher is accused of stealing drugs from a police evidence locker.Tracy Loveland, of McLoud, was char...

The Kaufman Herald, kaufmanherald.comKaufman County, TXKEMP - A member of Kaufman County’s law enforcement ranks has found himself on the other side of the bars.According to Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office public information ...

The Clay County Leader (Henrietta, Texas)BYLINE: Matt Kelton Clay County LeaderClay County, TXHamberger accused of taking firearm from evidence roomScott Alan Hamberger, a former deputy with the Sheriff's office, has been ind...

SmallTownPapers, Inc., The Raton Range (New Mexico)BYLINE: Todd WildermuthColfax County, NMMoney and marijuana are missing from the evidence room of the Colfax County Sheriff's Office and state police are investigating the si...

The Times Record, swtimes.comBYLINE: Mary L. Crider, TIMES RECORD • , OKSallisaw Police Department operations continue undeterred by the fire that gutted the department's old evidence room Tuesday, ...

The Sequoyah County Times, sequoyahcountytimes.comBYLINE: Courtney CobleSallisaw, OKOn Wednesday police piled up bags of debris and chemicals that were destroyed by a Tuesday night fire at the Sallisaw Police Department. Capt...

The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), City Edition, NEWS; Pg. 1ABYLINE: KEN RAYMOND, Staff WriterOklahoma City, OKOFFICIALS SAY HE'S WRONG; Former investigator assails OSBIAn Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation insider has ac...