Hundreds of Braintree drug cases may be thrown out in evidence room scandal
The Norfolk District Attorney’s office is facing the possibility that hundreds of drug cases may have to be thrown out as the initial details of an audit of the Braintree Police Department’s evidence room reveals missing drugs, guns, and money, The Boston Globe reports.
The first five Braintree cases were dismissed on Monday and Tuesday by Norfolk Superior Court judges at the request of prosecutors.
“We won’t and don’t use tampered evidence. It’s that simple,” Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey told the Globe. “We play by the rules, as painful as it is to let some of these people go.”
Braintree officials have asked Attorney General Maura Healey to investigate whether any crimes have been committed and are expected to release the results of the audit this week, the Globe reports. WCVB-TV first reported that the audit revealed eight guns, drugs, and $70,000 in cash were missing.
Braintree Police Chief Russell Jenkins hired an auditor in May to review the evidence room, according to the Globe. The auditor met with the Braintree Officer Susan Zopatti, a 20-year veteran who oversaw the evidence room from 2013 to 2016, on May 13. The Globe reports she killed herself within a week of learning of the review.
Read the full report at the Globe.
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