Update: Former Tarrant police officer, charged with stealing guns, surrenders

The Birmingham News, blog.al.com
BYLINE: Jeremy Gray -- The Birmingham News
Link to Article

Tarrant, AL

TARRANT, Alabama -- A former Tarrant police officer who resigned in January after a probe into guns stolen from the department's evidence locker has been charged with theft and is surrendering to authorities.

Police Chief Dennis Reno gave this account:

About a month ago the department began an investigation into the theft of nine guns from the evidence locker.

On Jan. 3, Sgt. Charles Kevin Higgins, an 11-year employee of the department, resigned after evidence indicated he took the weapons, Reno said.

The department finished its investigation last week and on Thursday turned over its findings to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. Higgins was charged with nine counts of felony theft of property.

Reno said Higgins this evening is in the process of turning himself in to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The jail log showed Higgins was booked into custody shortly before 7 p.m. and is being held on bonds totaling $135,000.

"It's real disappointing," Reno said.

Reno has asked the Alabama Bureau of Investigation to conduct its own review of the case.

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