The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is involved in a countywide investigation over the possible mishandling of evidence by the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force.
Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack confirmed to 1819 News that two of the department’s narcotics investigators are looking into cases that may have been impacted.
“At this time, we are not aware of any cases that have been impacted or any missing evidence,” Mack said. “However, that is the focus of the investigation.”
According to law enforcement experts, the mishandling of evidence can compromise ongoing cases and dramatically affect the outcomes of those cases. Mack said the sheriff’s office is taking this investigation very seriously.
“We are aggressively addressing the issue and working with our law enforcement partners to bring a resolution to the investigation,” Mack added.
The FBI's Safe Street Task Force is coordinated between the FBI and local law enforcement. A member of local law enforcement who serves on the task force is responsible for evidence that may be used in federal cases, including firearms, drugs and currency.
1819 News has reached out to the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Alabama, the FBI and the Baldwin County District Attorney's Office for comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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