Former trooper pleads not guilty to stealing drug evidence

Haugen is accused of taking approximately 150 prescription pills from six criminal cases from 2014 to 2016 from the evidence room at the Iowa State Patrol post in Mason City.

August 2, 2016

MASON CITY | A former Iowa state trooper accused of stealing drug evidence while stationed at the agency's Mason City post has pleaded not guilty.

Michael Haugen, 31, of Forest City, pleaded not guilty to a felony count of falsifying public documents and a misdemeanor charge of third-degree theft.

His trial is slated for Oct. 25 at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse in Mason City. 

Haugen is accused of taking approximately 150 prescription pills from six criminal cases from 2014 to 2016 from the evidence room at the Iowa State Patrol post in Mason City.

A phone call placed Tuesday afternoon to a number Haugen listed in court records rang unanswered. 

A message could not be left. Haugen resigned his post June 6, citing addiction to opioid painkillers. He said he developed it while seeking relief from painful intestinal disorders.

Officials say that Haugen, one of three evidence room custodians, admitted to taking drugs stored in the room a total 18 times from five to eight cases and replacing them with other pills, such as aspirin.The alleged thefts were found in April during an evidence room audit.

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