MADISON COUNTY, Ill. – An
Alton, Illinois police officer is accused of destroying evidence. Now, he has
been indicted on a felony charge of official misconduct.
Jonathan K. Forrler, 38, is
accused of destroying forensic evidence gathered as part of a sexual assault
case. According to the indictment, the evidence included a rape kit and
clothing.
The Madison County State's
Attorney's Office says someone notified it over the summer that evidence was
missing from the Alton Police Department. So the office, along with the FBI and
Illinois State Police, launched an investigation. Authorities say they found
missing evidence in 130 cases.
Forrler, who was working as an
evidence officer, was charged in the sexual assault case because of the strict
standards the law holds when it comes to handling rape kits. Madison County
State's Attorney Thomas Gibbons says the missing evidence will allow felons to
walk free in dozens of cases. His office notified the defendants in all 130
cases of the situation.
Gibbons says a very thorough
investigation did not find any malicious intent behind the missing evidence,
but investigators are convinced Forrler destroyed evidence on purpose. In the
sexual assault case, Gibbons says investigators could not find any connection
between Forrler and anyone involved in the case.
"Truly, the facts of this
case defy logic. And, it does not make any sense. But, there was no personal
gain to the officer, and to try to understand the motive and intent here,
fortunately we don't have to prove that in a court of law. Because it truly
does defy logic," said Gibbons.
The Alton Police Department
declined to comment on the situation, or on the status of Forrler's employment.
Forrler's bail was set at $20,000.
In response to the indictment,
Alton Mayor Brant Walker released the following statement:
The City of Alton and the Alton
Police Department have worked closely with county, state, and federal officials
during the course of the investigation into the destruction of evidence at the
Alton Police Department.
The Police Department is
currently conducting an internal investigation of this serious incident and the
City of Alton will take all appropriate corrective action to ensure that such
an incident does not occur again.
It is important to understand
that individual actions do not reflect on the entire Police Department, and I
remain confident in the Department's ability to protect our City.