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Evidence Tampering Investigation Continues

SHICKSHINNY — There are no answers yet about how evidence for a Luzerne County meth case disappeared from a locked closet at the Shickshinny municipal bui...

SHICKSHINNY -- There are no answers yet about how evidence for a Luzerne County meth case disappeared from a locked closet at the Shickshinny municipal building.

According to Shickshinny's mayor, the borough's police department currently has no officers. One resigned, the other was let go.

Evidence for the borough's criminal cases remained in a locked closet, but earlier this week, as a prosecutor prepared for a meth case, she discovered the evidence she needed had vanished.

The closet at the Shickshinny municipal building doesn't look like anything special but it holds evidence for the borough's criminal cases, and, possibly, a secret.

That's because investigators say evidence for two cases vanished and they don't know how.

The problem was discovered Wednesday when a prosecutor needed to get ready for a meth case and asked for a file that was stored here.

The bust took place last year at a home on Glen Avenue.

On Thursday, while state police were at the municipal building, Newswatch 16 asked council president Rosalie Whitebread about the investigation.

"I have not comment," she said.

Mayor Beverly Moore says only Whitebread and a borough secretary have access to the closet's key.

"There is a possible breach, and based upon that, I am following it to the full extent of the law," the mayor said on Thursday.

Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis did not say if the missing evidence would impact the meth case, which the borough solicitor says is still scheduled to go to trial next week.

She also would not talk about the second, unrelated case where evidence is missing.

Folks from the Shickshinny area feel something doesn't add up.

"Surprised, yes, yeah, yeah. It is a pretty tight-knit little community here," said Dana Sutliff.

"They know who's got access to it and I guess they might be able to find who it was pretty easily, you would think," said Maria McCabe.

"This town is not doing well. We really need someone to step in here and take charge," added Jeffery Bynon.

The borough solicitor says state police are expected back at the Shickshinny municipal building as soon as Monday to continue the investigation.

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