A 56-year-old Burnaby man is facing a single count of theft after an exhibit audit at the Burnaby RCMP detachment revealed approximately 500 grams of cocaine was unaccounted for.
The audit, which took place in the spring of 2011, revealed that cocaine was missing from a drug exhibit. After a comprehensive investigation, police determined there was enough evidence to charge a Burnaby municipal employee who had oversight of the exhibits.
"When the audit revealed a discrepancy, we immediately launched an investigation and imposed greater restrictions to the exhibit room," said Burnaby RCMP Chief Supt. Dave Critchley. "As a result of the audit and subsequent investigation, we have improved the handling of exhibits, processes and procedures to prevent this from happening again."
Gary Read has been charged with a single count of theft. His first court date is scheduled for Dec. 13 in Vancouver Provincial Court.
According to a Burnaby RCMP press release, the missing cocaine does not relate to a case before the courts and all other drug exhibits at the Burnaby RCMP detachment have been accounted for.
www.twitter.com/AlfieLau
