Asheville police evidence room undergoes scrutiny

ASHEVILLE, NC (AP) — The State Bureau of Investigation is
looking into the disappearance of hundreds of doses of the
prescription painkiller oxycodone at the Asheville Police
Department.

The district attorney’s office says it is halting jury trials
involving the police department for the next month while an audit
of the department’s evidence room takes place.

Problems with evidence came to light last week when a prosecutor
and defense attorney went to the property room and found that key
evidence was missing in the case of drug suspect Terry Lee Land.

District Attorney Ron Moore says the audit will cover 2,200
pending court cases and help determine the extent of tampering in
the evidence room. Asheville Police Chief Bill Hogan says his
office is cooperating with the investigation.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)