Severs is accused of taking prescription medication that was dropped off at the police department – a disposal site for unused or unwanted prescription medication – and putting it in her backpack.
October 10, 2018
MASON CITY, Iowa – A woman who worked as an administrative assistant with the Mason City Police Department is no longer employed after being charged with two counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs.
Melinda Severs, 43, of Dumont, was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail on Tuesday morning and has since been released.
Severs is accused of taking prescription medication that was dropped off at the police department – a disposal site for unused or unwanted prescription medication – and putting it in her backpack.
"The defendant took possession of the controlled delivery and later submitted it for disposal," court documents state. "When the bag was inspected ahead of disposal, the prescription medications were missing. A search warrant was executed on the defendant's office.
The 7.5 mg and 5 mg tablets of hydrocodone from the controlled delivery were located inside of a pill bottle with the defendant's name on it, inside of her backpack."
The Mason City Police Department says Severs was employed as an administrative assistant and was placed on leave when the investigation began. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement were brought in to assist with this case in order to avoid a conflict of interest.
As of Tuesday, Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said Severs is no longer employed with his department.
Brinkley declined further comment citing the ongoing investigation.