Cases in Jamestown Could Be in Jeopardy | News

JAMESTOWN, NY - The Chautauqua County District Attorney says he could know by the end of this week how many of his cases in Jamestown could be in jeopardy after revelations surfaced last week that a police officer in charge of the department's evidence room was stealing evidence.

Longtime Jamestown police detective Eric Corey resigned from the department on Friday after he was confronted with allegations that he stole prescription pain pills that had been seized in drug cases.

This all began last month when the District Attorney was tipped off by an informant that Corey was trying to buy pain pills from him.

State Police are investigating how many cases could be affected by Corey's alleged thefts.

District Attorney Dave Foley says he hopes to sit down with investigators by the end of the week. "He marshalled all evidence in the evidence room and even if he didn't have, if there isn't any evidence of a direct tampering of evidence, any piece of evidence he may have touched or handled because he may have been doing it while he was impaired, obviously the quality of that evidence is affected."

Foley is sending out letters this week to local defense attorneys to let them know about the situation.

In pending drug cases where former detective Corey may have actually stolen evidence, the D.A. says he may have no choice but to dismiss those cases outright.