No charges in Leland PD missing evidence case

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — No criminal charges will be filed after an investigation into evidence missing from the Leland Police Department.

In a news release, the town said it received and reviewed yesterday the summary report from a SBI probe into the evidence missing from a locker at LPD. The town says the report showed there was not enough evidence to file charges against anyone at this time.

Town leaders say the evidence missing was actually found property and not associated with any open or pending cases. The town says the missing bottle of 10/325 Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen was delivered by mail to a home in Leland, where the intended recipient had moved out of state. The current homeowner turned the bottle over to police, and it was processed and placed in the evidence locker.

Because of this incident, the police department has put additional protocol in place to control and monitor the evidence storage and processing, including installing new locks, the key to which is controlled only by the evidence processing officer. There is also a new process for paperwork with new forms requiring redundant filing.

The town says the investigation has revealed that no personnel actions are needed for any current employees.