Police Lieutenant Charged with Stealing Drugs from Evidence Room
Charges have been filed against a police lieutenant from New Jersey who allegedly stole illicit drugs from an evidence room, according to state officials.
The charges were announced by state attorney general Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. The accused, Kevin T. Matthew, 47, is a lieutenant with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and has been on leave since November 3rd.
Matthew is facing multiple charges, including two counts of official misconduct, tampering with public records or information, structuring financial transactions, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the OPIA's Corruption Bureau, which focuses on alleged misconduct by law enforcement and other public officials.
For more information, you can read the official news release.
Police Officer Accused of Tampering with Drug Evidence
A police officer, identified as Matthew, who was a member of the Special Victims Unit, has been accused of searching police databases for drug cases and removing narcotics evidence without authorization. The evidence in question contained fentanyl and cocaine and was taken from the department's main evidence vault. The officer allegedly returned the drugs in a condition different from when he initially signed them out.
According to the state's attorney general, these incidents occurred between October 2022 and November 2023. Matthew was frequently observed entering and leaving the department's offices with bags large enough to contain the narcotics he had signed out.
The attorney general expressed concern that Matthew's actions could have compromised the chain of custody and the reliability of the evidence for criminal prosecutions.
"The defendant's conduct, if proven, shows a shocking and blatant disregard for the law by a high-ranking officer who took an oath to uphold it," stated Platkin. "Being in law enforcement means being entrusted with public trust. When officers betray that trust, we will hold them accountable."
An ongoing investigation is being conducted into Matthew's conduct.
CBS News attempted to contact Charles Sciarra, Matthew's defense counsel, for comment on the charges but has not received an immediate response.
The news release stated that the charges of official misconduct could result in a prison sentence ranging from five to 10 years, along with a fine of up to $150,000. Similarly, the charges of tampering with public records or information, structuring financial transactions, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance carry a prison sentence of three to five years and a fine of up to $15,000. On the other hand, the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia is considered a "disorderly persons offense," which typically results in a sentence of up to six months and a potential $1,000 fine.
