Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jan 2002
Source: Spartanburg Herald Journal (SC)
Copyright: 2002 The Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Contact:  http://www.goupstate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/977
Author: Janet Spencer

JONESVILLE POLICEMAN LOSES JOB IN MISSING DRUG EVIDENCE CASE

A Jonesville Policeman Lost His Job And Became The Focus Of A Criminal 
Investigation After Crack Stored As Evidence Came Up Missing From The Town Hall

A Jonesville policeman lost his job and became the focus of a criminal 
investigation after crack stored as evidence came up missing from the town 
hall.

Officer James Randolph Ivey has been fired, Police Chief Jerry Cudd said 
Wednesday. Ivey, 40, had worked with the department for 18 months.

"I basically brought Mayor Jamie Long up to date on what's been going on 
and let him make the determination," Cudd said.

Jonesville's mayor has the authority to hire and fire employees.

Cudd would not comment on any aspect of the case, including how or when the 
evidence was determined to be missing.

The State Law Enforcement Division would not release any details, either, 
but did confirm the probe.

"We were called in last week by Chief Cudd," said Kathryn Richardson, SLED 
spokeswoman. "I can tell you only that the investigation is ongoing, and it 
centers around missing evidence."

Sources say Ivey told investigators he was looking in the evidence drawer 
when he found the crack but did not know what it was.

He said he took the material home and showed it to his wife, before he went 
into the bathroom. He returned to find his wife smoking the crack.

Ivey, who lives in Union County outside the town of Jonesville, could not 
be reached for comment.

Cudd said Ivey had worked in textiles before completing the police academy 
and joining the department in August 2000.

The department is reduced to three members with Ivey's termination.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens