DeLand officer fired, 2 others disciplined over missing meth

A DeLand police officer was fired, another suspended without pay and a third reprimanded this month after they lost methamphetamine collected as evidence

November 28, 2018

A DeLand police officer was fired, another suspended without pay and a third reprimanded this month after they lost methamphetamine collected as evidence at a home over the summer, Internal Affairs documents show.

Officers Michael Mirino, John Rutherford and Thomas Gillan responded to a home on July 14 to stand by as members of Probation and Parole searched the Lazy River Lane home of Cameron Rando, 19, who was on probation for grand theft and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling according to reports released this week.

Guns, pills and a small amount of white powdery substance, which Mirino tested and proved to be methamphetamine, were found by Probation and Parole and turned over to the DeLand police officers, investigative reports state.

Rando was arrested that day and charged with violation of probation.

The methamphetamine never made it to the evidence room, investigators said. And although Probation and Parole officers reported that the meth was found, Gillan's report did not mention the methamphetamine nor did he list the narcotics on the property page.