Investigation: Glendale officers mishandled evidence in several cases
DENVER (KDVR) — An internal investigation by the Glendale Police Department found that two officers allegedly mishandled evidence in several cases.
On Tuesday, FOX31 learned that two officers were under investigation, but the details of the case were unclear. On Wednesday, FOX31 obtained a copy of the investigation summary.
According to the Glendale Police Department, in February the department discovered two officers, Joseph Lamb and Michael Sweeney, did not follow procedures when handling property. The department then initiated an internal investigation.
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The investigation summary alleges that the two officers mishandled evidence in four separate cases stemming from Feb. 12-21.
Case 1: Items from suspect’s backpack found in trashcan
In the first case, Lamb and Sweeney discovered a stolen scooter at a Glendale hotel. The officers arrested the suspect who was associated with the scooter.
The suspect was wearing a black backpack that was obtained by officers during the arrest. When Lamb and Sweeney searched the bag, they found 16 items, including a stolen credit card, folding knives and a doorbell camera.
According to the Glendale Police Department, eight of the items were properly logged into evidence, but seven items were found in a trashcan. The final item, a Geeni doorbell camera, was never found.
The department interviewed Lamb and Sweeney about the case, and they said they separated items from the backpack that they believed to be evidence and threw the ones that were not deemed as evidence in the trashcan.
Lamb also told the department he threw the doorbell camera into the trash at the dispatch center after clearing the serial number.
Because the officers threw away the evidence and property that was in the suspect’s possession at the time of his arrest, the Glendale Police Department had to notify the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The charges against the suspect were then dropped.
Another officer, listed as Anthony Martinez in the report, sustained violations in this case after the department said he never drafted a supplemental report on a felony case until the morning of the internal affairs investigation.
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The sergeant who was the supervisor in this case, Sgt. Montour, also sustained a violation after allegedly letting Lamb conduct a use of force interview on his own use of force.
Lamb, Sweeney, Martinez and Montour all sustained violations.
Case 2: Officers pursue suspect without justified cause
On Feb. 19, Lamb and Sweeney were called to a business on a report of two vehicles without license plates circling the parking lot. When the officers arrived on scene, the police department said they attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect vehicle accelerated towards Cherry Creek Drive South.
Sweeney was driving the marked patrol car and allegedly followed the car down Cherry Creek Drive South, but once the suspect car turned onto South Colorado Boulevard, the officers stopped following them.
Lamb and Sweeney then returned to the business where the police department said they learned three people had run out of the store and into a nearby restaurant.
According to the police department, Lamb and Sweeney caught up to the three people and placed a male and female into custody.
During a search, the department said the female had a small clutch that contained several debit cards that belonged to other people.
Montour and Sgt. Farley with the Glendale Police Department were on duty during this case and were monitoring radio traffic. According to the department, Lamb and Sweeney’s actions during the case did not generate a need for a pursuit, but the offense report detailing the pursuit was approved by Montour.
Lamb, Sweeney, Montour and Farley all sustained violations in this case.
Case 3: Incorrect plates thrown in trash
On Feb. 20, Lamb and Sweeney contacted several people standing outside a Glendale hotel. According to the department, the people were around a car that had incorrect plates attached, although, the car and plates were not stolen.
According to the department, Sweeney removed the plates from the car, folded them up and threw them in the evidence intake trash.
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In the incident report, the department said Sweeney did not mention that he removed and destroyed the plates in his report.
The report was then approved by Montour.
According to the department, Sweeney sustained violations in this case.
Case 4: Drugs and counterfeit money thrown in trash
In the final case documented by the Glendale Police Department, on Feb. 14, Lamb was riding with his wife when he located a female with outstanding warrants.
Lamb and his wife transported the suspect to the Arapahoe County Detention Center.
According to the department, following a search of the female, methamphetamine, cocaine and counterfeit money were found. Lamb took the evidence back to the police station and allegedly threw them into the evidence intake trash.
The department said Lamb never mentioned the drugs or counterfeit money in his report, and he did not measure the drugs or charge the female with the possession of the items.
The department also said Lamb was riding with his wife against department policy.
Montour was the one who allegedly allowed Lamb’s wife to be with him, per the investigation summary. Two other sergeants, Gillis and Farley, were on the two final hours of their shifts, but the department said they should have known that Lamb was riding with his wife.
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In this case, Lamb, Montour, Gillis, and Farley all sustained violations.
Internal investigation is complete
Following the four cases, the Glendale Police Department said they had completed the internal investigation and determined that department policies were violated.
The department said the appropriate employees were disciplined but did not specifically say what was done.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has also agreed to conduct an external interview in these cases.
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