Pubdate: Sun, 17 Mar 2002
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Section: National
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

2 POLICE DETECTIVES IN KENTUCKY ACCUSED OF EVIDENCE TAMPERING

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 16 (AP) -- A grand jury has indicted two police 
detectives on charges of misconduct, including accusations that they 
tampered with drug evidence and forged judges' signatures on warrants.

The cases could result in the dismissal of charges and the reversal of 
verdicts, officials said.

The two detectives, Mark Watson and Christie Richardson of the Jefferson 
County Metro Narcotics unit, were arrested on Thursday and charged in a 
472- count indictment, said Jeff Derouen, a spokesman for the Jefferson 
County commonwealth's attorney's office.

The detectives pleaded not guilty at arraignments on Friday and were freed 
on bond, a mix of land and $25,000 cash each.

The indictment involved 24 cases the detectives had worked on. The charges 
included 20 counts of burglary, 132 counts of criminal possession of a 
forged instrument and tampering with public records, and 70 counts of theft 
by deception, Mr. Derouen said.
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