An unknown amount of cash is missing from the evidence room at Pflugerville Police Department and the Texas Rangers are weeks away from wrapping up a months-long investigation into the disappearance, the city manager told KXAN News.
October 26, 2016
PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) – An unknown amount of cash is missing from the evidence room at Pflugerville Police Department and the Texas Rangers are weeks away from wrapping up a months-long investigation into the disappearance, the city manager told KXAN News.
Pflugerville City Manager Brandon Wade (City of Pflugerville Photo)
“We discovered the issue based on a claim for return of evidence from an individual,” said City Manager Brandon Wade. “There was a case that was being investigated and a bunch of evidence was gathered up and for various reasons that case did not move forward.”
Wade could not confirm the exact amount of money missing nor could he reveal more until after the person making the claim explains to a municipal court judge at a hearing in January why they’re entitled to the cash. The evidence had been stored for ‘a few’ years, Wade explained.
“Because I brought outside help in and everybody including me was a suspect, I upset some people, some retired officers with that,” said Wade. “This is something that should be in the sunshine when it can be.” KXAN has reached out to the Texas Rangers for confirmation of an investigation and has yet to hear back.
Wade said the whole situation stemmed from what he called unusual circumstances. He added there is no procedure that the city needs to correct or changes needed to the management of the evidence room.
“We are on the verge of implementing 21st century policing… and so with that there’s always housecleaning to be done and we are searching for whatever it is that may need to see the light of day and this [investigation] is part of it.”
Wade said Pflugerville PD does an audit annually of its evidence room and all criminal evidence is bar coded and separated. Users sign in manually. Those logs are believed to be in the hands of Ranger investigators. Access is limited to himself, senior police staff and detectives who work in the Criminal Investigations and Narcotics Divisions. The city manager is allowed access as well with an escort.
The city manager says no one has been suspended, disciplined or fired due to the missing money. He said no other evidence appeared to be missing from the room.
