MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. – Michigan State Police conducted an investigation of the Muskegon Heights Police Department’s evidence room, which they said was ‘in total disarray.’
The investigation began when it was reported that money was missing from the evidence room.
Investigators said when they walked into the evidence room, they walked into a mess.
They found the police department was lacking proper evidence room policies and procedures where the basics of evidence collection had not been followed for years.
State investigators said they were confronted with ‘dumpster loads of evidence strewn about the area in no particular order.’
The investigation was conclusive in that evidence personnel failed to properly account for thousands of dollars through repeated errors.
MSP said that even if it could be proven that funds are missing, the field of potential suspects cannot be narrowed because access to the evidence room was not properly controlled. Keys to the evidence room were readily available. There were also missing keys, unchanged locks, a propped vault door and a money cabinet left unlocked.
Based on the MSP investigation, the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.
