BCI investigating Windham police evidence room break-in

"We don't know what's missing, and I don't want to speculate,"

October 24, 2017

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the Portage County Sheriff's Office, are investigating an overnight break-in at the Windham Police Department evidence room.

The evidence room is not at the police station at 9621 E. Center St., but at another locked and secured location in the village. The incident happened sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday, according to BCI.

Windham Police Chief Eric Breiding confirmed the incident Tuesday. He said he learned of the incident at about 7 a.m. Tuesday and immediately contacted state officials.

"We don't know what's missing, and I don't want to speculate," he said, declining further comment.

BCI spokeswoman Jill del Greco said Windham police contacted BCI on Tuesday to help investigate the burglary, which it agreed to do with the assistance of sheriff's deputies.

The state agency's Crime Scene Unit and Special Investigations Unit both were at the scene Tuesday collecting evidence at Breiding's request as part of "an outside, independent" investigation "to figure out who is responsible for this," she said.

There was "evidence of forced entry," del Greco said, and Windham police still are completing an inventory to determine what might be missing.

Portage County Sheriff David Doak confirmed Tuesday that his agency is assisting BCI and Windham police, but also declined to comment further.