Florida Reopens Drug Cases After Chemist Allegedly Caught Swapping Evidence
Published at
iStock/Thinkstock(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) — Officials are investigating a crime lab chemist based in Pensacola, Fla., saying he allegedly swapped prescription pain pills seized as evidence with over-the-counter medication.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesperson Gretl Plessinger said officials are now looking into 2,600 cases handled by the chemist since 2006. The investigation started when the State Attorney’s Office and police asked for assistance into inquiries of missing prescription pills from the Escambia County Sheriff’s office. They discovered the drugs had been replaced with over-the-counter medication.
“We know at this point that there could be potentially hundreds of cases compromised because of this one crime lab analyst,” Plessinger said.
FDLE teams will be deployed to all agencies impacted in order to inspect evidence handled by the chemist. Members will work to confirm cases that have been potentially compromised.
No charges have been filed yet, but officials said they anticipate an arrest. The suspect has been removed from his job.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio