Unsecured evidence is a epidemic!

March 22nd, 2024

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As of March 1, the Starke Police Department has been absorbed by the Bradford County Sheriff's Office.

This comes as part of a series of changes within Starke's government that included a resignation by the city clerk and a raid of City Hall by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Bags of sealed evidence not in the evidence room and personnel records in trash bags with tobacco spit on them were just some of the conditions detailed in a 104-page report by the Starke city manager about the state of the Starke Police Department before the Bradford County Sheriff's Office took over at the end of February.

There are also evidence bags out in the open and out of secured evidence lockers. Some pictures also show loose ammunition as well as bullets in the back of police vehicles.

The transition of law enforcement was just one of a series of changes in Starke.

On Feb. 27, Starke's city hall was the scene of a raid by the FDLE.

Less than one week before that, on Feb. 22, Starke City Manager Russell Mullin was joined by Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith for a tour of the Starke Police Department building before the Sheriff's Office takes it over.

According to a 104-page memo from Mullins to the city of Starke Commissioners, the Police Department building was in extreme disarray.

Pictures included in the memo show evidence bags out in the open and out of secured evidence lockers. Some pictures also show loose ammunition as well as bullets in the back of police vehicles.

Less than one week after that tour, Starke city hall was raided by FDLE. At this time FDLE has not confirmed to First Coast News if the raid was related to the Police Department's transition to the Sheriff's Office.

However, exactly one week after the raid, the Starke city clerk resigned his position.

A letter from City Clerk Jimmy Crosby to Starke mayor Scott Roberts from March 5 reads:

"A question has been raised on the issue of whether I properly qualified for the office of city clerk. I have always strived to serve our city with the utmost professionalism and without unnecessary distraction.

To avoid distraction from the good work our office has done and will continue to do, I resign effective immediately."

Multiple calls and emails from First Coast News to various Starke city officials were not immediately returned.

Regarding the raid, FDLE said this is an ongoing investigation.